Freshers Issue 2013 by Exeposé

“Magic appeals to a particular urge to impress people”: Arts chat to magic man Derren Brown Read the full interview on pages 24-25

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FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2013 • Issue 611 • www.exepose.ex.ac.uk • Twitter: @Exepose • www.facebook.com/Exepose

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A Fresh Start

Comment: Outline 5 things to avoid on Freshers’ Week - PAGE 7

lifestyle :

Map out Exeter’s best clubs, pubs and bars - PAGE 14

Sport: A guide to Exeter’s local sporting teams - PAGE 30-31

Photo: Jon Jenner

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Editorial team Editors Meg Drewett & Jon Jenner Online Editors Olivia Luder & Liam Trim Deputy Editors Clara Plackett & Emily Tanner depeds@exepose.com News Editors Print: Louis Doré & Owen Keating Online: Harrison Jones & Tom Elliott news@exepose.com Comment Editors Online: Dave Reynolds & James Bennett comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Alexander Carden & James Roberts Online: Meg Lawrence & Imogen Watson features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Kitty Howie & Emily-Rose Rolfe Online: Emma Brisdion & Ben Gilbert lifestyle@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Magda Cassidy & Josh Gray Online: Callum Burroughs & Ben Clarke music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Megan Furborough & Rob Harris Online: Jess O’Kane & Shefali Srivastava screen@exepose.com Books Editors Print: Elli Christie & Emma Holifield Online: Sophie Beckett & Rory Morgan books@exepose.com Arts Editors Print: Sophy Coombes-Roberts & Ricky Freelove Screen: Bryony James & Giverny Masso arts@exepose.com Games Editors Print: Gemma Joyce & Becky Mullen Online: Hernan Romero & Jon Jones games@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Will Kelleher & Mike Stanton Online: Matt Bugler & Jamie Klein sports@exepose.com Photography Niklas Rahmel photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Charlotte Earland, Lauren Swift & Vanessa Tracey

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Moberly and J.O.C. to reopen Olivia Luder Online Editor TWO Exeter halls of residence are reopening for undergraduate students in September 2013. A spokesperson for Campus Services explained: “Moberly House and James Owen Court were temporarily closed last year as they were not needed as the University recruited slightly fewer students than normal last year.” Furthermore, as the Accommodation Office told Exeposé last year, “28 students choose James Owen Court as their first-choice which meant we would only have filled around 10 per cent of the rooms [...] The total number of rooms is 175.”

I had worms crawling down my walls a few times Liam Speed, Second year History The halls are being reopened due to the high number of applications the University of Exeter has received for the coming academic year. In recent years, the University have closed Hope and Lazenby student halls in order to create more office space for staff, as well as closing accommodation on St Luke’s campus. Moberly House

and James Owen Court will provide an additional 414 rooms for new students in September. At £135.24 per week, Moberly Halls is the cheapest single room catered residence. Similarly, James Owen Court costs £119.98 per week, making it the cheapest en-suite self-catered residence alongside Point Exe. The reopening of both halls will provide more options for students looking for affordable housing. However, some students have expressed concern over the viability of Moberly as an accommodation option, citing poor maintenance as being the

main issue.

past three years and has grown sevenfold from accomodating just 23 students in 2010, to 154 this summer. Applications increased 54 per cent this year alone with students from over 55 countries vying for a place.

Megan Furborough Screen Editor

£119.98

An en-suite self catered James Owen Court room per week Second year History student, Liam Speed said: “I had water dripping through my roof and they came round a couple of times to have a look. But they didn’t really say what was wrong with it. I had worms crawling down my wall a few times from the leak though, it was pretty gross.” Second year Classics student Richard Berry agreed, saying: “If

Photo Credit: Joshua Irwandi

the conditions, for example the heating, are the same as they were last year then it is not fit for student living.” Campus Services explained, “Before reopening the University will be carrying out some minor works within the residence. The rooms are spacious and Moberly benefits from its own communal space.” Second year English student Jessica Fenlon said of James Owen Court, ”I really enjoyed living there. Because there were fewer students there than in other accommodation, it was easier to get to know people and it was really nice to be located in the centre of town.”

Record International Summer International students to School comes to campus receive integration support James Smurthwaite News Team

STUDENTS from Exeter’s partner universities around the world have come to Streatham Campus for the largest ever International Summer School. The International Summer School (ISS) offers undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world the chance to experience studying and living for four weeks in Britain. Students came from as far as North America and the Far East, with the largest contingent travelling from Fudan University in Shanghai. The students elected to study one of eight course programs which spanned all of the university’s six colleges and involved 82 members of academic staff. Students from the Fulbright Commission also took a week out to explore issues of leadership, sustainability and the environment in the South West. The ISS also featured a packed social calendar for the students to enjoy. They started the camp with a three night stay in London, followed by visits to Bath and St Ives after they transferred to the South West. The ISS has been running for the

154 ISS students

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Armstrong, said: “In the midst of a glorious English summer, we are absolutely delighted to welcome some of the brightest and best students from around the world to Devon and Cornwall. I believe that our International Summer School is unique within the UK due to the quality of our credit-rated courses, the quality of our faculty teaching for those courses, and the fantastic opportunity we offer to explore the South West of England.” Katelyn Sullivan, a student participant in the ISS described it as “a whirlwind of academic work, day trips, and packing, a fantastic experience and I am both bewildered and sad that it has ended so quickly!”

A NUMBER of events have been organised during Freshers’ Week for international students. Arranged by the International Student Support Office, the ‘How to...’ sessions in the Forum aim to make adjusting to life at university a smoother process for students new to the country. Sue O’Hara, the Student Support Officer for Transition and Integration told Exeposé: “Coming to university is an enormous event in most people’s lives, and the change from living at home can take some getting used to! Luckily there are plenty of people and services at the University of Exeter who can help”. To help students with this time, three days of talks, the chance to meet people who can advise on specific problems and fun activities have been scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday of Freshers’ Week. Monday’s sessions revolve around the theme ‘How to...settle in’, with information about the support, advice and help available at the university, from dyslexia awareness to legal and safety

advice about Tier four visas. Health and wellbeing is the subject of Wednesday’s ‘How to...’. Advice on healthy eating, mental health and fitness aims to inform students on living well during their time spent at the University of Exeter. The ‘How to...’ events close on Friday with a focus on smarter study habits, including English language support and tips on time management.

Coming to university is an enormous event in most people’s lives Sue O’Hara, Student Support Officer Titus Ching, the Vice President of International Society, told Exeposé: “Yes, they are definitely a great idea to go to for new students. It’s a great opportunity to meet people and make friends.” A full list of the individual talks and activities is included in the Freshers’ Week Events Guide.

Exeposé

| Week ONE

5 tonnes of glass recycled through Guild scheme Rob Harris Screen Editor THE COMMUNITY Liaison Team, in partnership with the Students’ Guild, has recycled five tonnes of glass taken from student houses which would otherwise have been sent to local landfills. A ‘Bottle-Bank Caddying Service’ was piloted between May and July of this year in order to compliment the hugely successful ‘Students on the Move’ project spearheaded by The Guild over recent summers. The project is designed to assist students in the multi-faceted task of moving out, helping to ensure a successful departure for both tenants and landlords.

The response to this service was very positive Rory Cunningham, Community Liason Officer Rory Cunningham, Community Liaison Officer, spoke out on the success of the scheme, stating: “The trial aimed to reduce our carbon footprint and provide an extra helping hand to students during the stressful moving out period. The collection van we used was provided by the Students’ Guild and the response from students and permanent locals to this service was very positive.” Beth Wright, a third year English student who used the scheme, told Exeposé: “This scheme can only be considered a good idea. Five tonnes of glass being recycled will have a substantial benefit to the environment, and the fact that such schemes exist is a definite step in the right direction. It’ll also be useful to use this scheme next year when graduating, since I can envisage moving my entire life out of a city will be difficult enough without convenient options for disposing of rubbish.” Student houses produce more glass than average compared to regular households due to the amount of tenants who elect to shop separately. Furthermore, the growth in supermarket home deliveries has also resulted in students being less likely to use traditional car park bottle banks, with food and consumer goods analysts IGD predicting the UK’s online grocery market to increase in value from £5.6 billion to £11.7 billion by 2017. Increasing numbers of students are also choosing not to bring cars to Exeter and are left unable to easily reach recycling facilities. “By collecting small amounts of glass from households and bringing them direct to bottle banks,” Mr. Cunningham continued, ‘we managed to divert at least five tonnes of glass from landfill during the busy moving out period. The trial scheme was such a success that a Christmas version is currently being explored.”

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New anti-begging campaign to combat Exeter drug trade Owen Keating News Editor EXETER City Council are launching a new campaign in their fight against “aggressive, drug-dependent beggars” targeting members of the public in Exeter city centre. The council claim that some beggars, many of whom are not actually homeless, are earning up to £80 per day to fuel addictions to alcohol or drugs, including crack cocaine. There are over 70 bed spaces in the form of hostel accommodation in Exeter, managed for the benefit of Exeter’s homeless population by the Street Homelessness Outreach Team (SHOT). According to the council, “a recent audit proved that over 70 per cent of people begging were not homeless”, and that when these beggars had obtained their fix, they would then return to their accommodation. One female student who approached Exeposé said: “I am used to being asked for money in my hometown, and assumed that perhaps this wouldn’t be as much of a problem in Exeter because it’s a more affluent area. I’ve actually found it to be much more of a problem here, and felt particularly intimidated when I was asked by a group of a few homeless men for money whilst I was trying to withdraw cash from the machine outside Sainsbury’s. This has now happened to me on three occasions, and most times I’ve been lucky enough to be accompanied by friends who intervened. When I was on my own, however, I was genuinely worried that I was going to get mugged, and I think that people demanding money whilst others are trying to withdraw from cash machines can feel very threatening. I am now much less comfortable withdrawing money on my own, especially if it’s dark.” A second year student also recounted: “While waiting for a taxi at around 10 o’clock outside Exeter Central Station I was approached by three beggars asking for spare change. Given the time of night and the fact that I was alone and outnumbered, I felt quite intimidated.

AFTER a successful trial period between March and July 2013, the Exeter Community Safety Partnership is anticipated to continue the taxi marshalling scheme that saw the city centre made safer for students on nights out. The scheme covered two of the city’s busiest taxi ranks and paid for four members of the Guild to receive Security Industry Qualifications to aid their involvement as marshalls. During the trial period over 24,000 people used the marshalled ranks and 86 incidents were dealt with, 23 of which required the support of Devon

£6.5 million sports park to open Owen Keating News Editor

They were understanding when I said I didn’t have any change (I genuinely had nothing to spare) but I’d hate to be approached like that again.” These sentiments were echoed by Councillor Ian Martin, who is spearheading the campaign, which officially

Given the time of night and the fact I was alone and outnumbered, I felt quite intimidated A second year student launches later this month. He told Exeposé that “being extorted for money is unpleasant and can be quite frightening”. He urged students to avoid specific cashpoints in the city centre after dark, especially those near Arena and Timepiece nightclubs. Martin also emphasised that begging is a crime under the Vagrancy Act (1824), and claimed that young people, including students, whom he described as a “massive influx” affecting the nighttime economy of the city, were key targets for beggars. Councillor Martin is one of the founders of Thames Reach, a leading homeless charity providing support for

Photo credit: Joshua Irwandi

homeless people across over 65 per cent of London. He warned that if people continued to give money directly to people on the street, then it would be increasingly difficult for the council to combat the city’s drug problem. According to Martin, criminal gangs from Northern England are dealing drugs in the city, and many in the city are both dependent on and regularly intimidated by these dealers. He urged students to continue their fine record of volunteering in the city, and said that the campaign didn’t intend to stop people showing “humanity” by donating to help the vulnerable. Martin suggested that instead of handing out money on the street, people should donate to charities helping the homeless, and that this approach would stop people from inadvertently “killing people with kindness.” Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare, said: “Begging is not only illegal but can be intimidating to students out and about in Exeter. The Students’ Guild is concerned about the number of people who feel forced into begging around our city, but we feel strongly that local agencies should be tackling the root causes rather than permitting illegal begging activity to continue. Anyone affected by this issue can contact the Advice Unit for support.”

Successful city centre taxi scheme to continue Gemma Joyce Games Editor

& Cornwall Police or South Western Ambulance Service.

There’s huge potential for trouble around taxi ranks. I’m glad this is being addressed appropriately Megan Furborough, 3rd Year English “After a long night out lots of students are looking to jump in a cab, so there’s huge potential for trouble around taxi ranks. I’m glad this is

being addressed appropriately,” said Megan Furborough, 3rd year English student. Chris Rootkin, VP Welfare for the Students’ Guild, commented: “With input from Exeter Community Partnership, the local Police, the Students’ Guild and the University’s Estate Patrol, this scheme has been a very positive example of collaborative working. We hope this scheme will continue to make a difference this academic year.” With Freshers’ Week and the Christmas period on its way, the scheme is expected to continue its success in tackling alcohol fuelled incidents around the city centre.

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER have this month opened the Russell Seal Fitness Centre, which has been built over the last year. Over £6.5 million has been invested in new health and fitness technology, with new interactive training programmes, virtual training environments, and on-demand music and video also available. The Sports Centre on the St. Luke’s Campus has also been redeveloped, with £45,000 being invested in high quality Life Fitness equipment to complement the previously existing facilities, which include a heated indoor swimming pool. The new facilities available include over 200 fitness stations, cardiovascular equipment, a dedicated free-weights room, and ‘Synrgy 360’, a multi-purpose hi-tech fitness apparatus. University of Exeter Sport want to ‘ensure that all members at all levels can get the most out of their workout’ using the new equipment. In addition to new equipment, many of the administrative equipment and policies have also been changed. The new reception area is bigger than ever before, with an extra self-service kiosk for gold and platinum members. Memberships can now also be purchased online, with inductions being conducted via an online video and questionnaire. The Sport department have also announced that the new Sports Centre will be open exclusively to university students and staff for its first few months of operation, before also being opened to members of the public. The gym is primarily “made for students”, according to Director of Sport Phil Attwell.

Students will be stunned by the best gym they’ve ever been to Phil Attwell, Director of Sport Attwell also told Exeposé that the expectation was that the number of gold and platinum card members would rise from 2,200 to at least 3,300 this year, and that the Sport Department “anticipate that our increase in membership will come from returning students who will no longer be frustrated by the gym size and quality, and [from] new students who will be stunned by the best gym they will have ever been to”. Attwell also discussed the new facilities’ capacity to deal with overcrowding at peak times, an issue which many students have complained about in the past. He highlighted the increased size of the new gym, the longer opening hours, and increased quickfire fitness classes as key measures brought in to create a better gym experience for all users. He stated: ‘the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NEWS

State funded education: 8.5%

Exeter offer holders 2013

2.3%

nt i

5.5% Unid e

596

Offers made by Exeter by school status

:2 nt

Fema le Male :

Sixth form colleges: 3.8%

d: 2 fie

du rE

National proportion of pupils aged 18 determined by school status (2012)

Independent: 2.3%

4 651

e: 52.1% Stat

n institu catio tes :

.5% 50

2013/14

2012/13

National gender proportion of independently educated aged 18 pupils

2011/12

Percentages of students from state schools and colleges

25629

males: 43.1% Fe

eter: 67.4 Ex

27925

les: 56.9%

H ig

This 27.9 per cent represents a proportionally large intake against the national average, as the Higher Education Statistics Agency reported in 2011/12 that 88.9 per cent of university students came from state schools and colleges. In the same report, the University of Exeter’s state schools and colleges propor-

Average :8

34077

A SURVEY by Endsleigh has revealed that 57 per cent of students work 20 hours a week part-time following the increase to £9000 fees. The survey revealed that 55 per cent of students needed the money to pay bills and housing costs, whereas 62 per cent were working to help fund their social lives. The findings also showed that 10 per cent less students rely upon their student loans, suggesting that this was due to a greater influx of international students. Despite this information, the overwhelming majority of students still rely on a student loan, with 44 per cent of students working to save for the future, with 40 per cent working simply to avoid going into debt. Over half the students interviewed chose their University on academic reputation and believe they will gain a job upon graduating, while nearly 60 per cent of the students admitted they used part time work to augment their CV’s. The National Student also suggested that 40 per cent of students are struggling to pay off their monthly bills, and are breaking into their savings in order to fund their degrees.

A third year English student

na l tio

% 8.9

Survey reveals 57% of students work part time to fund degree

It’s not surprising that we take more from independent schools

Applications made to Exeter by year

eral FE,ter Gen tia st college ry -iali s:

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERISTY is considering implementing a system that would check student attendance and correspondence. “Co-Tutor”, derived from a simple word spreadsheet, can be used to monitor the contact and interaction with the students, but researchers have suggested they are considering implementing the system to monitor students emails. The email monitoring is proposed to assess how well a course is being received, as well as equating the monitored student’s performance and probabilities of dropping out. Loughborough hope the software will improve student-tutor relationships, culminating in a better student experience overall. However, concerns have been raised about the nature of the email monitoring, as student privacy could be being compromised by the software. The President of the University and Colleges Students Union, Simon Renton, stated “We would have serious concerns about using quantative data sources as a performance management tool for staff.”

THE NUMBER of 1st year students at the University of Exeter has increased dramatically since last year, having received 33 per cent more applications. The increase to 34077 applications from 25629 last year comes after the University entered the Russell Group and was awarded the Sunday Times University of the Year award. The dramatic increase of 33 per cent is believed to be the reason behind the University’s decision not to enter clearing this year. It represents the first time applications have gone up since tuition fees were tripled in 2010. 8131 students accepted Exeter as their first choice or “firm” offer on UCAS, with 4345 accepting Exeter as an insurance. Of the 12476 accepted firm and insurance offers, 3478 of the students are from independent schools.

Newbies by numbers

Loughborough University to consider email monitoring

Louis Doré News Editor Harrison Jones Online News Editor

p ec ds an .9% 34

Louis Doré News Editor

Exeposé

33% more applicants to Exeter

pe n

National Student News

FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

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Inde

Louis Doré, News Editor

tion registered at 67.4%. A third year English student said “It is a top ten university so it’s not surprising that we take proportionally more from independent schools, the students usually attain better grades.” The majority of the University’s new intake is female, with 14768 offer holders being girls, compared to 12751 boys. The fact that 15.8 per cent more females earned offers than males looks to continue Exeter’s tradition of a majority of female students, as in 2010/11 there were 13.9 per cent more female

undergraduates than male. A second year undergraduate said “It’s nice to see

This has been our best ever year for applications Prof. Janice Kay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor that the level of boys and girls is nearly equal, considering that more women go to university these days”.

Almost 1,000 offer holders are known to have been predicted less than AAB, though this figure may be significantly higher. Much like the educational background of some students, the University does not know the predicted grades of a minority of applicants; whilst those yet to receive offers through clearing or adjustment are also not included. Professor Janice Kay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “This has been our best ever year for applications and we look forward to welcoming a record intake of 4,600 students in September.”

£6.5 million sports park to open Exeter ranked as 10th It will be lowest state school intake interesting to see CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Jon Jenner Editor EXETER has the tenth lowest intake of state-school pupils in the U.K, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Just 67.4 per cent of undergraduates admitted to Exeter for the academic year 2011/12 were from the state sector, compared with a national average of 88.9 per cent.

67.4%

of 2011/12 undergraduates were admitted from state schools Universities are given “benchmark” targets by the government for the proportion of state school pupils they should admit every year. Exeter were roughly 8 per cent below their benchmark target of 76.1 per cent. For the same year, only six of Exeter’s 23 colleagues in the Russell Group matched or exceeded their benchmark. Nearby Bristol had the seventh lowest intake, with the Royal Agricultural College, Oxford and Cambridge having the three lowest respectively. The statistics also show that Exeter admitted 4.9 per cent of its students

from “low-participation neighbourhoods” – less than half the national average of 10.2 per cent. The statistics, compiled by the HESA, detail the participation of “under-represented groups” as compared with the Higher Education population as a whole. Hannah Barton, President of the Students’ Guild, told Exeposé: “Widening state-school access to higher education remains a significant challenge for the University and it is imperative that efforts continue to meet the targets set by the Office of Fair Access. The context in which academic grades have been achieved should not preclude students from accessing the opportunities that studying at Exeter University provides. I look forward to supporting further initiatives set to achieve equitable access to students from all different educational backgrounds.” Josh Gray, a third year Ancient History student, said: “The failure of top universities to commit to a policy of equal opportunities will further dishearten the majority of less healthy school leavers already put off higher education by increased fees and living costs.”

certainty is that it will be better than it has been for many years’. More developments are planned for sports facilities at the university over the coming months. The old gym is being converted into an athlete development centre, due for completion by September 2014. The rubber crumb surface will also be replaced in time for the 2014 season, while a short game practice area for golf and poolside changing rooms for the Cornwall House outdoor pool are also in the pipeline. Attwell concluded that even though the Russell Seal Centre investment is ‘a big statement about the importance of sport at the university, we will be spending another £600,000 over the next twelve months as part of the continuing cycle of renewal and improvement’.

£600,000 continued development in the next tweve months

A third year student told Exeposé: ‘The developments in themselves look really impressive, and it will be interesting to see if the actual running of the facilities matches up to what’s in the brochure. As a keen sportsman, it is heartening to see that the university

if the actual running of the facilities matches up to what’s in the brochure A third year student is continuing its strong commitment to sport, as well as looking out for people who aren’t dedicated athletes but still want to be active and keep fit. Photo Credit: Toby Crewes

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COMMENT

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Comment Exeposé

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est.

Take things at your own pace. You’ve got at least three years at Exeter - you don’t need to do everything in the first few days! The truth is that everyone has a different Freshers’ experience. There are some who will hit every club that Exeter has to offer, embrace the drunken Fresher stereotype and turn up at lectures on Monday wondering where the last week has gone. Others will take it a bit slower, maybe focusing on the taster sessions offered by numerous societies or just using your days to explore the campus that you’ll now call home. Both are perfectly acceptable ways to approach the week and whatever happens, don’t feel pressured to do anything that you really don’t want to do. Our advice for Freshers’: take things at your own pace. You’ve got at least three years at Exeter - you don’t need to do everything in the first few days! Attending university is like being thrown in at the deep end and it’s okay to tread water for a bit. You’ll be meeting new people, trying new things and it can be hard to adjust. If you’re finding it tough, you should

DEPUTY EDITORS

1987

Welcome to Exeter THE new academic year is about to begin and over 15,000 students have flooded onto campus. Some of you are Freshers: welcome to Exeter, nice to meet you, we’re Exeposé, your student newspaper. Congratulations on making it to university. With over 34,000 applications to Exeter, those of you who start here this year are the cream of the crop, and should be proud of what you’ve achieved. You’ve probably been told that these years at university will be the best of your life, and your Freshers’ Week will be the pinnacle of your university experience. For some of you, that’ll be true; for others, not so much.

EDITORS

know that there are always people in Exeter that are happy to help you out, and sometimes a chat with a friend from back home can turn a really crap day into a good one. That being said, Freshers’ Week is designed for you to have fun. With a seemingly endless list of things to do, people to meet and places to dance dubiously in, you probably won’t be spending a lot of time in your room. Having a laugh and putting yourself out there is important, but you shouldn’t feel the need to completely ‘fit in’. Maybe try something that you’ve never done before ahead of the Freshers’ Fair on Sunday, or head to town and check out what’s on offer outside the usual Freshers’ haunts. Exeter is your university city so it’ll pay to get to know it. Of course, not all of you are Fresh. For those who are returning students: welcome back, we hope your summer was as fun as this next year guarantees to be. Exeposé is back too, promising to bring you all the best of student and Exeter life over the coming year. In this issue alone, we’ve got a two page interview with magical mastermind Derren Brown, your Freshers’ Week survival guide in the Lifestyle section, and all the details for how you can get involved in sport, film and music at university as well. Over the next year, stick with us for some exclusive news investigations, our annual Lifestyle fashion shoot and Sport’s second annual Rugby Varsity pullout in February. If you want to get involved with the newspaper, you can find us at the Freshers’ Fair, or sign up on the Guild website. Check out our website, Exeposé Online, for more information and be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, as well as following our dedicated Twitter accounts. Exeposé comes out every other Tuesday. While you’re eagerly awaiting our next issue, have fun, make friends and don’t be sick in the Forum.

Thanks to those who helped proof this issue: Charlotte Earland, William O’Rouke, Owen Keating, Louis Doré, Josh Gray, Rob Harris, Megan Furborough, Elli Christie, Sophy Coombes-Roberts, Gemma Joyce, Becky Mullen and Will Kelleher The next issue of Exeposé will be out on the 1/10/13. You can join us for the proofing of this issue on 27/9/13, 11- 4 in the A and V Hub

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Meg Drewett & Jon Jenner Clara Plackett & Emily Tanner

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Freshers’: The best week of your university career? Emma Lock YAY, Freshers’ Week! It’s the best week of your life – or so you’re constantly told. Anyone who’s ever heard anything about this fabled week is clamouring to tell you that this is the week you’ll discover your true self, make the best friends you’ll ever have, and meet the love of your life. All that amounts to a lot of pressure – at a time when you’re probably feeling more than a little confused by all the things suddenly being thrown at you from all directions. If it gets to Thursday and you’re hungover, can’t remember the name of anyone you met last night, and there’s STILL no sign of your future husband, it’s natural to find yourself worrying that you’re somehow ‘doing it wrong’. I know I did. The truth is that Freshers Week is a

Clara Plackett Deputy Editor

OKAY, freshers’ week wasn’t the best week of my life. It was exhausting, and sometimes quite stressful, but I did still have a great time, and a very memorable week. I was lucky to have been placed

I am still friends with those who thought clubbing in a zebra onesie was a fabulous idea in Birks Grange on a floor of very sociable people, and though going out every night for seven days – sometimes not getting in anywhere and opting for a Timepiece burger before heading home at 11pm – was

victim of its own hype. Some people find that it’s the best week of their lives, while others absolutely hate it and drink/snog/cry their way through every miserable minute. Many people are somewhere in the middle – not hating it, but feeling a vague sense of nervousness and unease.

The truth is that Freshers is a victim of its own hype The important thing to remember is that Freshers Week is exactly that – one week. While some people do have the most amazing week of their lives, it’s worth bearing in mind that these people often don’t have a university experience any better than those who spent the week feeling a little bit scared and lonely. Not having the best not really my preferred choice of activity, I am still friends with a fair few of those who also thought clubbing in a zebra onesie was a fabulous idea. Halls can be a bit hit and miss, but we definitely made the most of everything. 5am fire alarms and constant noise were low points after a while, but amongst mass beach outings, battle of the halls and the ninja pub crawl I made friends who continued to entertain me for the year. The only slight hardship I felt was due to English being the only subject to hold “study skills” sessions throughout the week. If I remember correctly this resulted in three 9am hikes up Cardiac and hours spent desperately trying not to look hung over. In fairness, the English department has not demanded this level of attendance from me since, and after Freshers’ Week was over I quickly found a job to keep me occupied in between my six contact hours

week of your life doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean you’re boring; it doesn’t mean you’re not fitting in; it doesn’t mean you’re not ‘doing it right’. It simply means that you’re not having the best week of your life – and you’re definitely not alone. At a student support training session at the end of my second year, we were asked whether Freshers really was the best week of our lives. Out of the group of thirty people, two people said it was. Two people out of thirty. These are the kind of statistics all that hype and all that pressure is based on. So, if this week is the best week of your life, that’s fantastic. If it isn’t, don’t worry. This is only the beginning of your time at Exeter – and there are some truly amazing times waiting for you.

per week. Making friends from my course is also something I have found essential in order to enjoy my degree, and again, some of my closest friends are from my “Beginnings” group. I’m mainly living with other English students this year and I’m definitely relying on them to keep me sane (good luck, girls). Yes, approaching freshers’ week with the expectation that it will simply be seven days of fun is probably a bad idea, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t find people you get a long with, and be able to enjoy campus and the city – and that doesn’t have to mean clubbing every night. I don’t think I know anyone from my halls who had an awful time, and I’m sure that with all the improvements in and around Exeter over the past year the new Freshers’ can easily have a great week.

Cartoon by Emily Pickthall

Exeposé

| WEEK ONE

COMMENT

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The faux pas and fatal flaws of Freshers week: Five things to avoid on campus Exeposé Comment run through the five things you should never do during your first week on campus 1 - Don’t be sick in the Forum It’s likely at some point in the week you’ll be feeling a little worse for wear after a heavy night in Exeter. Yet however ill those 20 shots of sambuca and the dodgy burger you bought for £1.50 make you feel on your walk back up Stocker Road, it is always unacceptable to use the Forum as your sick room. Especially if you choose an Exeposé distribution bin as your receptacle.

3 - Don’t get with a flatmate However wonderful it may seem at the time and however much that night in Arena made it seem like a really great idea, getting with a flatmate during Freshers Week is unlikely to end well. Just imagine the awkward conversations in the kitchen whilst the kettle boils each morning or being the talk of the flat you know you can’t escape for another nine months.

2 - Don’t lock yourself out of halls Despite the glorious South West weather the night it pours down with rain will be the night you find yourself locked outside your Lafrowda block in socks and with no phone to call for help. Do your best to befriend the people who live on the ground floor so you can always knock frantically on their windows at some ridiculous hour should this ever happen to you, but, more importantly, always check your pockets for keys before letting that deadlock slam behind you.

5 - Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not We’re not suggesting you launch straight into the tale of that time you lived with monkeys in Peru or immediately and enthusiastically explain your collection of hats from the 1930s when you meet your new peers during Freshers, but never pretend to be someone you’re not. If you don’t want to go out to Timepiece and would much prefer to stay in with a cup of tea and a romantic comedy then don’t put yourself through the pain of drinking all night and waking up with a hangover for something you won’t enjoy. Meeting new people will always lead to trying to impress new people but you’re more likely to make friends you’ll keep by showing them the real you and not the front you’ve created for Freshers.

4 - Don’t go swimming in any of the fountains on campus They’re not heated pools. Full of weeds and fish if you choose to take a dip in Reed Hall’s gardens or dangerously slippery marble if you dive into the pool by the Arabic centre, Exeter’s many water features are better to be admired from afar. Even if you want to cool off after those hours of sweating your socks off in Arena the fountains on campus won’t make the night any better, especially if you’re caught by Estate Patrol. Maybe just wait for a shower at halls instead.

On Tuesdays we wear pink: Welcome Team 2013 Lydia Popiolek “HOW much are they paying you?” “Does this mean you can’t go out clubbing?” “You’re really not getting paid?” are questions most Welcome Team members will be at least mildly tired of soon into Freshers’ Week. Not to mention just plain old tired, especially after the mayhem of arrivals weekend. But ask any member whether it’s worth it, and the results will be 100 per cent positive. The pink-clad clan are here to move in new students, point lost ones in the right direction around campus during

the day, walk the very lost ones home on a night out, and be general (pretty obvious) points of communication and (hopefully) fountains of knowledge

Ask any member whether it’s worth it, and the results will be 100% positive. What makes it worth it is the thanks you get from students, parents, and Guild members, the genuine ability to help others, the fun you have in and around doing so – and, of course,

the stories you emerge with. I will never forget the almost mythical tale Joy Taylor (Deputy A&V Manager) told during team training of one chap, magnificently inebriated and unfortunately lodged in a hedge, who refused to vacate his position unless he was serenaded with “Eye of the Tiger”. He was obliged by willing Welcome Team members. Being sober on a night out can be much more interesting and memorable than you’d think. Though, please, don’t get any ideas for future Freshers’ Weeks. Given the good reputation of Exeter’s Welcome Team, Bristol University are using it as a template to create

their own. This is a huge compliment to our Guild, who work hard and with the local police to make sure all our students stay safe throughout their entire time at university. Wearing pink can be a big responsibility, but we wear it with pride.

Really, I’d have a hard time thinking up reasons not to be part of the Welcome Team No, we do not get paid because we

care about doing this job, and doing it well. Yes, we forgo a week of drinking (we still get to club sober on night duties, and trust me it’s much more fun than you think). No, we really do do all this voluntarily. There is amazing camaraderie between people who just want to keep drunken students out of oncoming traffic (this does not just apply to first years – third years, we’re looking at you). And you would not believe how comfortable those pink t-shirts are. Really, I’d have a hard time thinking up reasons not to be part of Welcome Team.

Exeposé

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How to get ahead in journalism

What is the Features section? Hello readers both old and new - and welcome to Exeter if you are in the latter category! For those reading this section for the first time, it can sometimes be a little tricky to get exactly what sort of articles Features runs, so we thought in this first issue of term, we’d give you a short explanation as to what sort of article we look for. Features tends to run in-depth pieces based on a writer’s personal experience or looking at a broader issue from an angle relevant to students. Our last edition (Issue 610), with its two features ‘Learning Normality’ and ‘Enduring Honduras’, contains good examples of these sort of pieces. We strongly suggest that anyone considering writing pieces for features read them, either online (at Exeposé Online or on Issuu, the online copy of the physical paper) or in a back issue. At first glance, these articles can seem quite different. If you have read them, however, you will notice some similarities. Both rely on deeply personal experience to explore a wider issue, an issue of great importance. It is these kind of articles that Features is the home for; articles that demonstrate the skills of some of the best writers and budding journalists in the university. Stories that have to be chased and researched and experienced to be written, that contain the unusual, the shocking, the thought-provoking. Pieces on any subject, highlighting any issue, which can be poured over by the entire student body, which inflame debate, which inform and enlighten. This kind of writing can be challenging and time consuming. But the effect on the student body, on the paper, the section, and on your own skills and expertise, is well worth it. With Exeposé Online, we have unlimited space to feature your writing, so if you feel like you might be able to contribute, this is a great time to try. If you think this is something you would like to be involved in, then we’d love to have you write for us. Make sure you are on our mailing list by signing up at the Squash, and look for our email soon. We’re keen to meet face to face with any interested people to explain this in detail.

FEATURES

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What are the five most terrifying words in politics? “Michael Crick is in reception” the old joke goes. Exeposé Features meets the veteran of over 30 years of political reporting, and asks him about your place in the future of journalism.

hile at the UKIP conference, as well as ambushing grandees with probing questions about bald people (Issue 608) we here at Exeposé Features also took some time to talk to the other journalists there to cover the conference, most of whom were slightly more well known than ourselves. The most loquacious, and indeed the most wellknown, was probably industry veteran Michael Crick, who we were able to harass for musings on the profession and tips for budding journalists. So if you’re reading the section and thinking you can’t wait to get involved in journalism as a serious undertaking, here’s advice right from the top.

He paints a bleak picture of all forms of traditional media, especially newspapers, declining rapidly, shedding jobs and opportunities enroute Perhaps the thing he’s quickest to point out is the world of difference in the profession between now and when he started, over a ‘third of a century’ ago. His entrance into the world of journalism, he says, was largely made as a stepping stone to politics, and it was only because he found journalism ‘such fun’ that he did not make this transition. Nowadays, he says, the political arena is so full of think tanks, lobbyists, and researchers that there is a very different path to employment in the political world. You would have thought that this separation between politics and journalism

would have purified the journalistic world, and certainly Crick credits the separation of the two and the rise of the aggressiveness of particularly political journalists in holding politicians to account in the ‘vast improvement in political journalism in the last 25 years’. However, he still criticises the flaws that modern journalism brings, particularly the pack mentality; that journalists are clubbing together to decide ‘what’s the story today, right who are we going for next, who are we bringing down’. It is the homogeneity of this news cycle he finds particularly disturbing, the unhealthiness of the pack all chasing one story when there are always lots of stories out there. And his view of the future of journalism has no room for this. He paints a bleak picture of all forms of traditional media, particularly newspapers, declining rapidly, shedding jobs and opportunities en route, a decline not halted by the slow adoption of web newspapers as well as print. He expressed amazement that they aren’t closing down faster in fact, and maintains that ‘it’s only a matter of time’ before they do. This decline is even more pronounced in local news, with papers closing ‘all the time’, and in broadcasting, although that decline is more in terms of ‘it’s not as well paid or as much fun’. And yet the appetite for information, for ‘information processing, for information gathering, for exposing wrongdoing’ remains, and ‘will probably be even greater in 50 years’. What will cater to this appetite he doesn’t know, but believes it will be found by adopting a far more entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to journalism. He says you have to ‘think about it in terms of setting up a business’ and ask yourself ‘what can I do (that is probably internet related) to acquire information, process, and sell it, where is there a gap in the market’. Innovation, then, is his

key for future success in journalism, rather than following the well-known patterns or career paths. And certainly the wild popularity of blogging and other relatively new forms of news delivery seem to support his claim. While his long term advice may

Keep in contact with everyone you can, even (with a laugh) if you don’t like them be more radical, he does share some gems of short term advice for those thinking of or trying to become journalists in any sense of the word. The importance of relationships (thankfully he does not use the word ‘network’ which has a tendency to fall on student ears long tired of hearing it) is crucial regardless of what kind of journalist you want to be. He recommends keeping in contact with everyone you can, from school, university and work, even (with a laugh) if you don’t like them, and insists upon the importance of having everyone’s contact details at your fingertips to gain even a few seconds edge over competitors. He illustrates this with stories of how he would comb the Washington DC phonebooks a find a ‘surprising number of movers and shakers’ had their home numbers listed there, which he admits may have been a little ‘obsessive or trainspotter-ish’ but serves as a good example of how far you can go to get the edge. The other side of this information hoarding is maintaining relationships with your contacts, a simple matter of ‘putting the time in’, and that your ability to call upon a friend from 25 years ago will be much stronger if you’ve kept up the relationship in that time, even

if it’s only a call or text now and then. The other thing he mentions is the importance of finding ways to practice your skills, that may also become routes into the professional world as well. Student media, local radio, and writing for a niche area you have a speciality in – whether it be from your degree or hobbies – are all both training grounds for creativity and possible areas to start your career. Again, entrepreneurship, lateral-thinking and ‘pushiness’ (another skill for a journalist) is a key asset here. A colleague who joined as an ITN trainee at the same time spent a year travelling around America trading on the novelty of his English accent to get him week long internships at rural TV and radio stations. Now while all of this requires money, as you are extremely unlikely to be paid at such a level (although he points out the even the professionals aren’t making a killing) it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re serious about wanting to be a journo. If you are lucky enough to secure a real internship, you shouldn’t go along assuming you’re set; you should have done enough research to be able to intelligently discuss and most importantly analyse your employers output, and indeed your own – why have they done it this way rather than that, what are they getting at here etc. At this point we found ourselves standing on the platform of Exeter St Davids with Mr Crick’s London train pulling up, so we had to end the interview. While undoubtedly his advice does not cover all that he had learned over such a long career, it still serves as an excellent grounding for those who are interested in journalism. If you are, the easiest first step might be to pop along to the Exepose stand at the fresher’s squash; come and chat to us about what we do and see if some experience on the student paper could be the start to a long and interesting career!

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FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

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The Aid Epidemic

Exeposé

Photo Courtesy of Africatravelresource

With his sister recently returned from Kenya, Liam Taylor asks if our good intentions actually do more harm to fragile nations around the world

HERE is Bongo Bongo Land? I hadn’t come across the phrase until I saw it plastered across the headlines after the controversial MEP Godfrey Bloom used it in his speech/rant (delete as appropriate) on foreign aid. The use of the phrase sparked controversy apparently everywhere bar his constituency, and led to a situation, then exacerbated by his stubborn defence of his remarks on the BBC, which culminated in an offer to personally apologise to the ambassador of Bongo Bongo Land himself (who unfortunately could not be reached for comment). I guess he was unable to use the excuse that he was merely referring to the late President Bongo of Gabon, as a former Tory MP claimed when he used the

phrase the last time it caused controversy, and figured that was next best option. I leave it up to you dear reader to decide whether the comments were racist or not. This article is concerned with the heart of the issue, not the semantics.

boarding school in Nairobi that my sister stayed at on her first night could be indistinguishable from anywhere in England, save for the rather nicer weather. Yet other parts conform more to the stereotype of popular culture. A land of mud huts and endless savannah, The problems that where basic necessities like running water are luxuries and old plastic botthe media back tles are considered a sturdy construchome deems worthy tion material. In Nairobi itself this difference is perhaps even more glaring, of making a fuss about modern skyscrapers and office seemed rather trivial to where blocks stand side by side with hastily built shacks made from salvaged scrap. her Indeed that kind of contrast is far from uncommon in the region. When I was Not long after the media flurry sur- in South Africa a few years ago (for rounding the controversy died down the much less noble reason of a holimy sister returned home after a summer day) there was a stark difference beof charity work in Kenya, a country I tween the westernised tourist areas and suspect some would consider a prov- the slums on the outskirts of the city. ince of Bongo Bongo Land. The probIn a way it helps to put things in lems that the media back home deems perspective. It’s easy to forget how worthy of making a fuss about, the good we have it in the grand scheme of occasional daft utterance from a things, how protestors in New York or politician, seemed rather trivial to outside St. Paul’s are part of the wealthher, at least compared to the real iest one per cent in the world and how problems faced in the less fortu- even the poorest in this country are comnate parts of the world. It is no fortably in the top ten per cent. Many of secret that Kenya is by no means the villages rely on subsistence farma rich country, to put it ing, lacking the convenience of modern mildly. It receives over technology they rely on their own back two billion dollars each breaking labour. In one village that my year in foreign aid and is sister spent time helping in, a single the second largest recipient mother of five had to single-handedof US aid to Africa, behind ly toil on a maize field all day just to only Egypt. Like many coun- grow enough food to survive. Yet even tries in the region it has also donations of modern equipment do litbeen plagued with corruption. tle help; a tractor is of little use without Kenya can seem like two the parts or know how to fix it when it completely different breaks, or even how to use it in the first lands. The west- place. Indeed the most advanced piece e r n i s e d of technology my sister came across out there was an old toaster. Growth away from subsistence is not done any favours by the western world’s insistent protection of its own farmers from foreign goods. When my sister first told >>MEP Godfrey Bloom me she was go-

ing off to do charity work in Kenya a couple of thoughts crossed my mind. The first was the most obvious, that this was a really good thing to do. But I have to admit there was also a cynical part of my brain that thought “how much help can you really be? After all, what do you know about digging wells or building schools? The closest you’ve come to hard labour is helping our parents with the gardening. Surely it would be better to send them the money you’re going to spend on flying out and living there?” While it sounds bad there was some logic behind this thought. After all it is a common problem after natural disasters that lots of well-intentioned volunteers show up unprepared and without any training. The result being that actual charity workers have to waste time babysitting them, instead of helping the victims, and waste precious resources feeding them and patching them up when they hurt themselves. There was also an element of concern that she might get eaten by a lion when she tries

How much help can you really be? After all, what do you know about digging wells or building schools? The closest you’ve come to hard labour is helping parents with the gardening

to pet one. Although I’m glad to say that the cynical side of me was wrong. Empathy, the desire to help others less fortunate than ourselves, is of course very commendable and it is one that nearly every person has no matter their beliefs or where they lie on the political spectrum, if anywhere at all. Of course not everyone can go out to Africa and physically help, so this empathy manifests itself in other ways such as charitable giving. But sometimes that

cynical part of us raises its head, “what good can my tenner a month do?” So that same feeling of empathy makes us demand that more be done, that government fixes it. We rely on the ‘wisdom’ of the bureaucrat in Whitehall rather than the experience of the volunteer on the ground. It feels good to be absolved of responsibility, we did our part and if it’s not working it’s not our fault, it’s the government’s fault. It’s the government that isn’t doing enough, isn’t giving enough and can never give enough. Remember earlier when I talked about the vast divergence between the richest and poorest parts of Kenya? Just why is there the gap? Is it an inevitable part of development? Is it because there still is not enough aid? If so, how is it that Asia has managed to lift millions out of poverty without a penny of aid? $2 billion can a build a lot of schools and hospitals, yet they are conspicuously absent. Perhaps you also remember the rampant corruption I mentioned. Well put the two together and perhaps you start to realise how it’s possible that after decades of receiving billions in aid the average Kenyan hasn’t gotten any better off. Kenyan corruption may be bad, but it is small comfort that it is not as bad as other parts of Africa. Indeed one prominent Zambian economist argues strongly that the corruption is so bad that the corruption (amongst other things) actually makes aid harmful to African countries. It may be possible that handing over large sums of money no questions asked can create the conditions that fuel corruption, sort of like the way vast natural resources can become a curse for poor countries. All the arguments for greater aid have at their heart the best of intentions, just like the well intentioned clothing drive that has a minor side effect of putting the indigenous clothing and textile industry out of business and inadvertently costing lots of jobs. There is an old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. So perhaps it’s time to rethink our approach to help those that need it most. To stop focusing on intentions and start looking at results.

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lifestyle

FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

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1. Mama Stones Owned by Joss Stone’s mum, this is a relaxed bar with comfy seating to listen to live music and chill with a cocktail.

11. Oddfellows Somewhere to splash out on a cocktail. 12. The Old Firehouse Please note any attempts to order a Smirnoff Ice will be answered with an abrupt “NO”.

2. EX4 Warning: beware of the sharks. 3. Walkabout Aussie themed bar with cheap drinks.

13. Pitcher & Piano A bar set up with baffling and incongruously loud musc, serving lovely cocktails. Good if your date hasn’t got much to say.

4. Timepiece Three floors with a different atmosphere on each one.

14. The Ram The Uni’s finest student pub, run by the Students’ Guild

5. Rococo’s Allegedly Thursday night is compulsory attendance for all freshers. Allegedly.

15. Vaults Friendly gay bar in the centre of town.

6. Mosaic I once ended up here at 2am doing Karaoke with 3 Columbians and an astrophysicist from Wales, and consequently don’t remember much.

16. The Cavern Stunning live music, with Electro-Swing bonanza’s and crazy visiting DJs. 17. The Monkey Suit Great place for a chat and cocktails.

7. The Lemon Grove A safe haven from scary locals at the weekend. Lifelong friendships and nemeses can be formed in the preliminary freshers’ week queue.

18. The Chevalier Introduced to me by locals as the “Chavalier”.

8. The Arena Infamous for its ‘Cheesy Tuesdays’ presumably named after the smell of the carpet.

19. George’s Meeting House Surprisingly reverent Wetherspoons.

9. Cellar Door Head down to the Quayside for Exeter’s coolest club.

20. 44 Below The cocktails in a teapot are superb. The burger bar upstairs is also a delight.

10. The Imperial Its proximity to campus makes it a great meeting place, and one that’s gorgeous in the summer.

21. The Vic A cavernous tavernous treat.

>> For a small city, there are a surprising amount of ways to let your hair down. No one needs to tell you how to party, but you might need help getting there. Navigate off the high street round the twists and turns of Exeter’s night-life with our brilliant map, by Natalie Brown

Don’t bother faking it to fit in if you’re Fresh

It’s better to be straight up and honest about what you like, says Kitty Howie, Lifestyle Editor I have a confession to make. I, Kitty Howie, Lifestyle Editor, hate clubbing. Yup. That’s right. What a traitor. Don’t get me wrong – I love a drink (or three) as much as the next person, but getting sweaty in the cattle-market layout of Arena frankly doesn’t turn me on. I know what you’re thinking – hypocrite! These pages are splashed with “go and get drunk in clubs every night and make the best friends ever during your Freshers’ Week” whilst I’m sitting here knowing I’d rather remove my guts with a blunt object or prefer to suck my eyeballs clean than see off a dirty pint. It’s a tricky situation because abandoning clubbing all together in your Freshers’ Week isn’t advised – feeling like the odd one out alone in your room with Skype and a wine box for one will make you feel ten times worse. Trust

me.

Make an effort and brave the night life of Exeter, even if only for a night. No one says you have to stay the whole time – you’re less likely to be written off by your new flatmates as a flake, and less likely to be forgotten for the rest of term. Plus, if you tell them you’re not keen yet still make the effort, they’ll be dead impressed. Bonus friend points for being a tough cookie (and not a pushover). It’s important to remember that if clubbing ain’t your thang, you’re not alone (though it is easy to feel that way… especially if you’re in Birks Grange). Once you’ve given the nightlife a preliminary whirl and gone along to things with others, they’ll be more likely to come with to the things you want to do - there are plenty of ways to

coerce people into fledgling friendships that don’t have to involve jäger-sweats and tinnitus. If, like me, you actually like to be able to listen to people while you have a drink, explore the great range of pubs or cocktail bars. Our map is a great way to orientate yourself in the city, but if you’re feeling really adventurous, consider the quayside and then walk for 20 minutes or so down the river to Double Locks, a friendly rustic pub on the canal waterside with infamous swans (don’t piss them off). What happens if you don’t like boozing at all? Stand your ground and don’t be pushed into anything you don’t want to do. People will ultimately respect your decision (and be jealous of your sober steady mind the following morning). Make the most of the day-

time. Rather than smugly revelling with your hangover-free head, coax blearyeyed souls to Boston Tea Party (sit

There are plenty of ways to coerce people into fledgling friendships that don’t have to involve Jäger sweats and tinnitus upstairs) or to Tea on the Green (great scrambled eggs) for restorative brunch. You’ll feel like you’ve been part of the student scene forever. If the weather is good, walk the length and breadth of campus or visit nearby coastal Exmouth

or Dawlish Warren. If all else fails… Go to society taster sessions and brave the Activities Fair on Sunday. Get your money out in advance (more than you think you’ll need), grab as much free stuff as you can and face the queues. They can be annoying, stressful and at times more disorientating than the female toilet layout in Timepiece... But persevere and commit yourself to taking up a new hobby (or five). If you’re getting bad vibes from your flatmates and haven’t had the chance to bond with course friends yet, the close knit communities of societies are your best bet for having a great time – hell, you might even find yourself being talked into clubbing socials...

Sorority Sister Exeposé

| WEEK ONE

www.exepose.ex.ac.uk

Raving with the Freshers

Charlotte Trefusis helps you get the most out of Freshers’ Week... FRESHERS’ Week is said to be the best week of the year. With the student loan coming in, no work (yet!), loads of activities and nights out, it’s the perfect way to start university. But how can you make sure that it lives up to this expectation? 1. Moving in is both exciting and entering into the unknown. Get posters and photos on your walls early on, but then get yourself out there, and don’t stay in your room too much. Hang out in the kitchen or communal area and get to know each other. 2. You’ll find when walking around in freshers week that everyone already looks like best friends. This isn’t true – that’s probably what you look like to everyone else too... 3. Keeping your door open during your first few weeks makes you more approachable. It’s fine to want a bit of time to yourself too – everyone does, so don’t feel guilty for going to relax for a bit.

4. Try and remember your flat mates names early on. Don’t make the mistake of asking what someone’s name is and then not listening to the answer.

1) Don’t be the guy that ruins the

Tweets of the week Tweet us @ExeposeLStyle

5. Nights out are a big part of freshers’ week. It’s a really good opportunity to meet new people and to bond with your new flat mates.

EXETER PRESIDENT @ExeterPresident Has been GOATing (going out and talking) to students and hearing your opinions. Some v interesting ideas, keep them coming! #guildtimes

6. It is definitely worth buying tickets in advance of the night for freshers’ week. But wait until you find out which wristband your flat mates have bought.

MEG DREWETT @meg_drewett Just managed to accidentally email back an Exeposé member just the letter H when saying Hi. #editorfail

7. Girls - Don’t be too keen, wear flats. Exeter is covered in hills and heels are rarely worn on nights out. The welcome team (pictured) will be hanging around clubs and campus in pink t-shirts to help you, so ask them if you need advice. 8. When in Timepiece, buy a burger. You won’t regret it.

>> The welcome team are always out and about to help. Photo credit: Students’ Guild

9. Don’t go TOO wild in Freshers’ Week, as first impressions really do count. And try not to be that person that spends their entire student loan in one week...

many taster sessions in Freshers’ Week. This is your chance to do it free before you commit, and a good opportunity to invite people to try something out with you.

10. Get involved in societies. There are around 200 of them so you’re bound to find at least one that interests you! Get along to the Freshers’ fair and get signing up. There are

11. There is free stuff everywhere, so don’t hold back Take everything you can get! Especially 2 for 1 pizza vouchers... They will be useful all year!

Louis Doré, News Editor, handles the dos and don’ts of boy behaviour OKAY, so you’re in uni and meeting loads of new, exciting people and you’re hoping they’ll think you’re a top bloke too. You’ve probably got it covered, so the last thing you’ll want to read is some patronising “how to live your life” article from a sanctimonious ego with an agenda. So don’t think of this as a guide – just think of it as a short account of why guys get labelled as tossers and the possible route you’d take to avoid it.

lifestyle

hallway: Vomit in a shared space and your friends may see the funny side, but probably only once. No matter how alpha male you think you look seeing off a pint of vodka, you’ll feel pretty damn beta in the morning. 2) Don’t lead people on: One night stand? Fair enough. Friends with benefits? Whatever floats your boat. As long as you’re straight up with people about your intentions, I don’t think many would argue if you stick to

them (ahem). Just remember: people talk, especially about guys who cheat. 3) It’s not all about you: Everyone likes the guy who’s the life and soul of the party, but no one likes the guy who is oh so desperate to be it. Maybe sit back and laugh at someone else’s jokes, but don’t become part of the scenery either. 4) Think before responding: If someone is putting you in an awkward situation, give yourself a second

to breathe. It’s easy to go with your gut reaction before thinking it through, and making a decision you regret forever. So just give yourself a second to engage your brain, you’ll be thankful. 5) Relax and put yourself out there: Uni is for study. It’s also for adventure and maturing. Don’t lock yourself away – get off your arse, grab some mates and do something fun. Being the guy with no time for friends is not the impression you want to make, besides you’re missing out on the time of your life.

ALICE CALDER @AliceCalder I think I’ve found a new purpose in life. Mechanical Bull Rider. #yeehaw HAYLEY @ChaosHayley Quite concerned that I am already addicted to #Tumblr and I’ve only had it for about 12 hours... #ohdear #hipster TIMOTHY BRADBEER @TimBradbeer Bump into ex-history teacher today, mention I go to Exeter, she did too, followed by an in-depth chat about the wonders of the Lemmy... NIKLAS RAHMEL @niklasRen Hm, @ExeposeLStyle is asking how to be BNOC - rule #1: BNOCs don’t call themselves a BNOC. (that’s all I can say)

Sorority Sister Our columnist, Holly Alsop, has just started her year abroad at the College of William and Mary, Virginia. She tells us how she survived her Freshers’ Week or “orientation” pletely different than England’s. At William and Mary, you learn chants and Tribe pride and generally have an awesome time discovering your Col-

I’VE been travelling around the US before college starts, shedding my jetlag, running into bears and becoming increasingly baffled at the American’s food choices; pizza flavoured pringles, Maccy’s McLobster, bacon mints, really? A month of confusion later and I’ve started college. I’ve moved into my delightful basement room where the building floods and I am forced to share a room. Exeter would never subject me to such a thing. I feel that because this is the Freshers’ issue I should give my column a Freshman vibe, so here goes; Freshers’ Week or Orientation as the Americans call it is 100 per cent com-

Freshers Week, or Orientation as the Americans call it, is 100% completely different than England’s lege President’s deliciously croaky voice or taking the dorm next to you down in an epic singing face-off. At Exeter, everyone gets together and gets hammered. You’re out every night, partying away, generally having the best time ever, holding your neighbour’s locks out of her face as she chunders, perfecting the rules of Ring of Fire and ultimately contracting the dreaded fresher’s flu as a souvenir of those glorious if not slightly blurred memories.

In America, you can’t drink till you’re 21. Not that I haven’t tried. At the few frat parties I’ve attended so far there’s always been at least one police scare. At which point the brothers shuffle you (the underage lawbreakers) into their rooms and the whole house has to stay silent as the police patrol the building. They have no authority to enter private bedrooms, so if you hide in there and you’re quiet, you should be safe. Otherwise a night in a cell or deportation. This stuff is serious. But of course, beer pong is “the bomb” and something I’m gradually improving at. My first ever match was the Australians versus Brits in the showdown of a century. The tension was high. Bets were placed. It was neck and neck. I scored the winner or so I thought, but there was a chance for redemption and the Aussies took us down. But, fear not…our Ashes are ongoing and I will do Exeter proud. At Exeter, no one makes you play awkward ice breaker games where you have to say your name and an

interesting fact about yourself; one girl’s fact was that she is frequently in love with dead fictional characters. Each to her own, I suppose. Another game in which you remember each other’s names by putting an adjective before your name; Jolly Jake, Punctual Paige etc. will remain particularly memorable. A Hannah stole ‘happy’ so in a moment of blind panic I labelled myself ‘Handy Holly’, a name I will never live down. It’s not

At the few frat parties I’ve attended so far there’s always been at least one police scare meant to sound dirty. I’m just a useful gal to have around, I promise. Anyways, for the past couple of days I’ve been called ‘Handy’ which I’m starting

to respond to, things have taken a turn. And lastly, the campus shop! At Exeter we have a few trackie bottoms, a number of coloured hoodies but nothing like at William and Mary. A college shop wholly devoted to W&M memorabilia. Anything you could think of and they’ll have it decked out in college colours (Green and Gold) and W&M lettering. Shot glasses to golf balls. Cowboy rain boots to Ralph Lauren polos. It’s kind of brilliant, actually. I was tempted to join the netball team in Exeter just for the stash and I know some of you will be considering it. But join for the fun not for the clothes, I promise you won’t regret it. There are differences in abundance; but what both universities have in common are the friendly faces of the welcome team, the amazing friends you will meet in your corridor who won’t wonder why you’re in jail but be the best friends sitting right next to you and ultimately the chance to try new things and have the best years of your life.

Exeposé

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Music

Listings Thu 19 September Tim Burgess Phoenix Tue 24 September James Blake O2 Academy Bristol Sat 28 September The Damned Phoenix

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Exeposé Music meet Drenge, the unwitting kings of combat rock

Sun 20 October Babyshambles Great Hall

IF music is meant to be the food of love then uber-powered hard rock duo of brothers Drenge didn’t get the memo. Their riff fuelled chaos is the food of anger, aggression and hatred: the aural equivalent of a greasy burger outside Timepiece following a bust up with the bouncers. In person, however, they come across as eerily familiar. They’re the same scuzzy kids we were back in our school days, swigging Strongbow down at the park while discussing the pointlessness of life, politics and the concept of Miley Cyrus. Eoin and Rory Loveless are the fresh from uni/college no-hopers who were lucky enough to find that their early demos were actually popular. When asked if their parents are proud of their chosen career in rough and ready punk Eoin laughs, “I think they’re just proud that we managed to find a job”, though they admit that their dad’s old stories about touring with his

Sun 10 November Editors Great Hall Mon 11 November Mount Kimbie The Fleece Tue 12 November Chase & Status Plymouth Pavilions Wed 27 November The Lumineers Plymouth Pavilions Sat 30 November The Wurzels Lemmy

One to Watch

Babyshambles @ The Great Hall Whether you think Pete Doherty is a passionate poet, a disreputable drug fiend or simply that guy from The Libertines, Babyshambles remain a solid live proposition thanks to his grounded bandmembers Drew, Mick and Jamie.

Interview

Double Interview Freshers’Special

Tue 8 October Drenge Cavern

Tue 22 October The Blackout Lemmy

MUSIC EDITORS

Tue 1 October Pearshaped Launch Party with Isaac Indiana Cavern

Tue 22 October Temples Phoenix

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Bloodsports

jazz band inspired them to play music. “I listen to a lot of jazz” adds Rory, “we pretty much don’t listen to what we play. I’ve got a DJ friend who sends me garage music and hip-hop which is great for warming up”. Their show in Bristol’s Louisiana is a short but intense affair due to their fledgling repertoire of two minute long songs, and Rory explains that “we have to make the half hour to 45 minutes we’re on really good to make it worth it”. But from the crowd you can sense the excitement the pair feel each time they unveil their work to the world, “every night is like the most exciting thing, it’s really cool visiting places up and down the country”. When questioned about their fraternal bond and the strains of touring without any other band members to distract them from each other the twosome reveal that they’re “professional ignorers so we don’t know the other person’s

there a lot of the time”. But they don’t reject the idea of expanding band membership while touring, admitting they’d happily do a Black Keys and hire a few extra live performers, rather than remain resolutely White Stripes-ish in their exclusiveness. When asked what instrument would sound good in their

Our parents are just proud that we managed to get a job mix Rory answers that “organ will be the next one I think, we’ll do a Doors and get some sweet basslines”. But the pair insist this is a long way off, and seem happy enough to keep producing their bare-bones rock’n’roll. Drenge recently released their self-titled debut, but they insist that

they’re not an ‘albums band’. “We were doing these four track E.P. things and then just writing the next four, so it’d have been very easy to keep on doing that every few months” Eoin tells me, “but when we got a record deal the record boss was like ‘Yeah, just churn out a few more and you’ve got an album’. I guess signing a record deal means you have to make records”. When asked where they see themselves in a year’s time Drenge are typically atypical, “there’s a good chance of a lot of natural disasters in the next year, so we’ll be living in a The Road-esque situation” jests Eoin, “all we want is a nice warm place to bed down”. Drenge might not be the most ambitious of bands, but you can bet you’ll hear a lot more of them over the next year. Drenge are playing The Cavern on Tuesday 8th October

These New Puritans fight their case Interview

Josh Gray, Music Editor, chats to George Barnett of Essex’s most artistic band

THESE NEW PURITANS, elusive manufacturers of unpredictable, complex art-rock/pop/electronic music, are often portrayed as joyless fun-sponges. This is an unjust label, claims drummer and vibraphonist George Barnett. “We’re not at all serious!” he insists in the exasperated tone of one who’s been trying to escape this misassumption all the seven years since TNP’s debut Beat Pyramid was released in 2006: “People said that we’re this dark mysterious band from Essex, but we’re not. We’re just trying to push the boundaries of traditional song writing, we’re more fun than you’d imagine”. George, brother of singer and main songwriter Jack Barnett, certainly lives up to his claims of not being an enigma, chatting happily about the band’s action-packed year despite the fact I’m interrupting his much-needed holiday in Spain. “The recording business (of new album Field of Reeds) was quite stressful and the album came out pretty quickly after recording” he muses, but

he also insists that “this album’s really what we’re about, it feels so good to be playing this music”. While their previous album, 2010’s Hidden, was full of bombast and intensity, Field of Reeds takes a far gentler but similarly bizarre approach. Comparing the two George describes Hidden as “more about big group instrumentation, this record’s more about the interlocking melodies and interlocking rhythms”. When questioned about the writing process behind the album, George insists “We always go into the studio trying to make a pop record but then we always come out thinking ‘Oh shit, we’ve spent a year in the studio and it’s not a pop record’. But we’re not worried about that; I think we’ve made something really good”. Disparity is what These New Puritans are all about, both in their music and attitude. George repeatedly switches between light-hearted self-deprecation and the serious discussion of the emotional role of music: “There’s a lot of hope in this music, the brights are the

brightest they’ve ever been and the darks are as dark as there’s ever been. There’s contrast just like there is in real life, it’s not just Calvin Harris pop music. It’s the music of real life, like that musical that just came out. It’s Calvin Harris’ Les Miserables”. After a brief post-album break, These New Puritans are now hitting the road, playing shows around the UK including a slot at Bristol’s Simple Things Festival. When asked what to expect from a TNP live performance George answers that “It’s quite atmospheric and kind of emotional, and it can really take you to different places… We’re the kind of band I’d want to see live, and I listen to everything from Miley Cyrus to Miles Davis”; alternatively he also describes his band’s sound as “Vangelis on speed” if that description intrigues you more. These New Puritans are playing Bristol’s Simple Things Festival on Saturday 12th October

MUSIC

FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

www.exepose.ex.ac.uk

THE FIRING RANGE

There’s no

GOOD MUSIC

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

I have a hatred passionately shared by many people, and that is for the song ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke and friends. If I ever hated the patriarchy for anything, it is for putting such sexist lyrics and a video to such a catchy tune. Why why why? “Good giirrrrllll” seems to recurr in my head more than “Do you hear the people sing?!” Yes, it’s that bad. And for taking my constant loop of Les Mis away from me with your hideous song, Robin Thicke, you are a DICK.

EXETER!!! A Naysayer’s Guide

GEMMA JOYCE, GAMES EDITOR

Exeposé Music gives you the lowdown on Exeter’s top music venues

THE EXETER PHOENIX has a strong reputation as one of the South West’s premier music venues. With gigs varying from acoustic acts to up and coming rock bands through to underground house DJ’s, the bookings office provide a varied programme where there truly is something for everyone. They also have a knack of showcasing bands who are on the brink of becoming popular. As an avid rock fan who loves to hear loud guitars, I flocked with hundreds of other students to watch Lower Than Atlantis last October. Support was provided by Bedford rockers Don Broco who just one year later played the main stage at Reading/Leeds. With a capacity of 450, the venue itself provides an intimate listening experience where you can see some of the country’s most hotly tipped bands before they head off into the stratosphere of arenas and stadiums. With acts such as Mallory Knox and Temples on the bill this term, the Phoenix has struck again by bringing great nationally acclaimed bands to Exeter.

TOM ELLIOT, ONLINE NEWS EDITOR

THE CAVERN is a legendary hole in the ground not to be tarred with the Cellar Door brush. But like its newer rival in hipness (in relative terms – this is Exeter), it deals in dank, underground-chic and excellent club nights. For electronic music, there’s student-led Beats & Bass and newer monthly Our House, as well as Magic Hatstand, where 90s rave vibes and an assortment of headwear lubricate that tricky divide between locals and students. Saturday’s Indie Disco does what it says on the tin, but throws in a small to medium-name band on top of its free live bill (Micachu, Rae Morris). The clientele ranges from trendy, metropolitan rolled-up-sleevers to grungy locals – thanks to its family-esque circle of Exeter homeboys on both sides of the bar. Beyond the finger-pumping image of its student nights, the Cavern has long been dedicated to underground music, and especially punk rock: both the homegrown music of its friends – most of the staff are moonlighting from spots in bands – and a growing history of emerging talents and alternative legends alike. Thanks to associated promoters Freakscene, past acts range from Muse through Fugazi to Kate Nash. An Exeter staple.

CALLUM MCLEAN

Beach Breaking Bad

Samuel Rix rips into the Newquay Bash

I’VE never been to a festival where the main stage blew over. However, at Beach Break it did on the last day and that symbolises the utter shambles it was. I’ll outline some of the main grievances: the staff, if there were any, had no clue or were completely indifferent as to what was happening or where anything was. Set times, locations and information about acts was provided in the form of misspelt, incorrect A4 printouts, stuck to innocuous lampposts throughout the town. The buses which shuttled to and from the campsite to the town were irregular and stopped at 1, despite some nights the music ending at 3. On entry there were two stewards checking tickets and providing wristbands, culminating in a queue and waiting time of biblical proportions. Many

THE FRESH meat amongst you will think of the Lemmy as the place where students of all music tastes gather together on a Saturday night to enjoy friendship and comraderie over cheap drinks and fun music. The more experienced among you will know Lemmy Saturdays for what they are: a dirty pisspot of a night where the sad, lonely and bad of taste gather to celebrate mediocrity. However, the wise among you will remember that, for the rest of the week, the Lemon Grove is a well established venue on the south-west gigging circuit, hosting live performances and dj sets from a range of different bands and musicians. I was fortunate enough to catch sets by both Lucy Rose and Kaiser Chiefs, both of whom filled the venue and made me wonder how such a good venue for bands can be reduced to a overly-loud club that dwarfs it’s inhabitants uncomfortably at weekends. Lemmy events on the horizon include sets by folk-rocker John Grant and emo-rock emperors The Blackout, with more to come in the new year. So remember children, the Lemmy is for life, not just for Saturday night.

... and the pick of the rest THE GREAT HALL - Relegated to this corner for the infrequency of it’s non-classical concerts, the old GH still pulls the biggest names of any Exeter venue. Upcoming performances include sets by Babyshambles, Billy Bragg and Newton Faulkner. THE OLD FIREHOUSE - Truly the best site for showcasing local bands, the Firehouse’s Sunday Night Live event remains a weekly staple for any musically minded Exeter student. TIMEPIECE - The home of the university’s own Campus Bands, Term 1 sees stella performances from home grown bands old and new on a Monday night. In Term 2 the highly competitive Battle of the Bands begins, where you can see the top uni bands compete against each other in a bloody battle for top place. WALKABOUT - Known principally for being a sports bar, Walkabout also caters for many other customers. It’s open mic Sundays are always a good way of seeing a real range of music and an even larger range of talent.

HANNAH SCARLETT acts were cancelled throughout the festival and production values were absolutely dire. The lighting on the main stage may as well have been a man standing in the corner with a wind up torch. Thankfully the music managed to salvage something for the organisers. Hospitality was an absolute highlight; selector David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan provided his usual eclectic mix of dub, reggae and dancehall and Nu-Logic and High Contrast performed great sets. Danny Byrd absolutely smashed it and placed the crowd in a state of Drum and Bass euphoria. Ed Solo and Deekline were fantastic as per, gifting us with wobbly breaks fused with some fluid Drum and Bass. Festival stalwarts The Cuban Brothers provided some funky hip hop breaks and Gentleman’s Dub Club got the whole crowd wobbling along to ‘Emergency’ and ‘High Grade’ and the ever energetic Dub Pistols whipped us up into an absolute fren-

Exeposé

zy with ‘Cyclone’ and ‘Mucky Weekend’. Sub Motion Orchestra were a stand out act for me placing the crowd in a hypnotic state with their wholesome, spine tingling bass and beautiful vocals. Shy Fx was a disappointment however he dropped ‘Original Nuttah’, ‘Wolf’, Don’t Give a Damn’ and ‘Helicopter’ so I’ll forgive him. I didn’t go and watch Jake Bugg, because I wanted to enjoy myself, but some girls I chatted to at the bus stop said they liked him. Exeter’s very own Beats and Bass Society played some sterling techno before their slot was interrupted by one of the organisers demanding that his friend play instead, who turned out to be an absolute gorilla pig playing slight variations of the Harlem Shake. Without some serious improvements made, to location, organisation and production value, I really don’t see Beach Break being around for much longer.

Earl Sweatshirt - Burgundy BURGUNDY forms the foundations of the angst-ridden narrative that weaves through Earl’s outstanding debut album Doris. The sparse production lets the troubled teenager’s deadpan drawl dominate, dropping us down into a dark and sinister purgatory in which the story-teller wrestles with the new ‘expectations’ of his fans, friends and family. Earl’s anxiety provokes a frank and heart-wrenching response underpinned by poetic lyricism and acerbic humility. Earl has an odd future ahead, but his mesmeric playful flow will ensure it will be worth listening to.

BEN CLARKE ONLINE MUSIC EDITOR

GetJAMES in tune: CROUCH For a more night out-centric overview head to Exeposé Music Online for A Week in the Life of an Exeter Clubber. Also online we have interviews with Outfit and Emiy Barker as well as the latest Spotlight articles, letting you know the best new bands you’re missing out on www.exepose.ex.ac.uk Tune into our radio collaboration with Xpression FM Music, The Xmedia Music Show, returning soon on Xpression FM. Catch up on our old shows online and like us at www.facebook.com/ xmediamusicshow

Screen

Screen FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeScreen

Newsreel Peter Capaldi named new Doctor After half an hour of the most boring live telly ever, the Scottish veteran actor has been confirmed as the series’ 12th Doctor. Older than previous incarnates Matt Smith and David Tennant, here at Screen we’re hoping Capaldi uses his age and wisdom to take us back to the Doctor Who of old.

Ben Affleck to play Batman Affleck has recently been cast as Batman in the still formally-untitled upcoming Batman Vs. Superman, directed by Zach Snyder. The internet nearly exploded with the news, with some crying “holy Batman” at Matt Damon’s snub whilst others consider Affleck to be an interesting counter-balance to man of the moment and Superman star, Henry Cavill.

50 Shades of Grey finds its leads After a very long wait, more rumours than we can keep track of and Emma Watson vehemently denying any involvement, Dakota Johnson is confirmed to play virginal college graduate Anastasia Steele and Charlie Hunnam her mysterious (and weirdly kinky) pursuer in the film adaption of the erotic novel. Sam Taylor-Johnson is set to direct and Kelly Marcel to adapt E.L.James’ cult story. We hate to think what the screen test looked like.

David Frost 1939-2013 The veteran journalist, television presenter and writer has passed away at the age of 74. He is best known for The Frost Report, the satirical comedy that launched the careers of many comedians and performers. He will be missed.

FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

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SCREEN EDITORS

Megan Furborough & Rob Harris screen@exepose.com JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP Exeposé Screen

Screen’s Summer Showdown Exeposé Screen relive the summer in cinema and the TV you missed whilst away Skins Cast: Jack O’Connell, Hannah Murray, Kaya Scodelario 2013 Channel 4 Season 7, 3 Episodes LOVE it or hate it, we are all members of what posterity will view as the ‘Skins generation’. Though few of us may have lived up to the Skins standard of life, the first four series reflected the wayward youth we imagined we had in a curiously appropriate way. But the best seasons of Skins only worked because of the context they were received in, because they had a generation that was desperate for a sense of its own identity as their target demographic. This generation has moved on and grown up now, so it makes sense for the latest series to try and deal with its subjects’ progression into adulthood. Unfortunately Skins’ writers confuse maturing their characters with sucking out their personalities com-

pletely, leaving vacant bodies that stare into the distance while meandering xylophones mournfully try to create a sense of depth. The result is an unlovable mongrel that’s neither the fun teen series it used to be nor the clever adult tragedy it wants to be. When

Love it or hate it we are all members of what posterity will view as the ‘Skins generation’ lined up alongside Channel 4’s recent glut of brilliant gritty dramas, it’s clear to see that it’s Skins, and not its characters, that can’t work out how to grow up.

JOSH GRAY MUSIC EDITOR

Les Revenants Cast: Anne Consigny, Frédéric Pierrot, Clotilde Hesme 2012 Channel 4 Season 1, 8 Episodes IF you didn’t watch Les Revenants (The Returned) this summer, then frankly you’ve wasted the past few months; not since Danish drama The Killing has there been a series so considered, so stylish and so gripping. Les Revenants is an eight part French series revolving around a small town in the Alps where, seemingly inexplicably, the dead begin to return. But The Walking Dead it ain’t – this is a slow burning series which will leave you with few answers and a lot

Cast: Nicholas Cage, Chloe Grace Moretz, Aaron TaylorJohnson 103 mins (15)

superhero game and jonesing for revenge after the death of his crimeboss dad, deciding to

Monsters University Director: Dan Scanlan Cast: Billy Crystal, Charlie Day, John Goodman, 104 mins (U) PIXAR are a little nostalgic these days. The behemoth that was Toy Story 3 had monstrous success at the box office, mainly due to the reminiscence the college storyline provided to newly adult fans of the series. Monsters University is clearly attempting to recreate the successes of

MEGAN FURBOROUGH SCREEN EDITOR don his late mother’s bondage gear, styling himself as the villainous ‘Motherfucker’: scourge of the city and allround Freudian nightmare. But none of the other sub-plots manage to be as compelling as Mindy’s own nightmare of trying to make it through high school without being eaten alive by killer cliques and Queen Bitches. Now 15 years-old, her sassy ‘tude has been tempered with a typical adolescent crisis. For a while she gets drawn into an evil triad of ‘popular’ mean girls – but eventually realises she’s more Kill Bill than Bring It On. Let’s hope the next film dispenses with Kick Ass entirely and pushes HitGirl front and centre stage.

Kick-Ass 2 Director: Jeff Wadlow

PICKING up a few years on from its last outing, Kick-Ass 2 is an enjoyable but perhaps inevitably less shocking progression (after all, it’s hard to top the shock of hearing an 11year girl dropping the C-bomb). Dave Lizewski – a.k.a Kick-Ass (Taylor-Johnson) – is still a loveable dork, and Hit-Girl/ Mindy Macready (Moretz) yet again manages to pull focus from our somewhat colourless hero. Still a filthy rich brat, Chris D’Amico has tired of the

of questions. Classic features of the zombie genre are incorporated – they’re ALWAYS hungry – but aside from a smattering of skin eating, there’s practically no blood or violence. Atmosphere is key, and the premise works because of how it depends on extracting the tiniest, most painful emotions. Friends and families are confronted with the faces of those they’ve lost. Camille returns to find her twin sister all grown up. Simon sees his former fiancée and daughter with another man. Saying that, half the fun lies with piecing together characters and events spanning 40-odd years. Regardless of the superbly intricate storyline, questioning how you would attempt to reconcile the dead with the living is the central theme of the series. It’s an impossible task, and for the inhabitants of Les Revenants, one that will thankfully roll into another series.

SHEFALI SRIVASTAVA ONLINE SCREEN EDITOR Toy Story 3, indulging tried and tested characters in a new setting in the hope of another revenue machine. However, the mistake that Ratzenberger & co. have made is forgetting elements of plot and character along the way. This is not to say that Monsters University is a complete failure. It retains some trademark Pixar humour and brilliant invention, however all of the depth experienced in their other films seems absent. Mike and Sulley’s journey from rivals to friends is the only story in this film, whereas other characters’ roles could have been explored more fully. There are some

great new characters (Art, voiced by Charlie Day, steals the show) but they remain largely distractions and not agents of the action in the film. The main story is an intriguing one, but it remains only mildly entertaining (and noticeably short) on its own. Monsters University had the makings of a stellar family film, the likes of which Pixar have been grasping at for years. However, it remains a decent nostalgia trip, nothing more. LOUIS DORÉ NEWS EDITOR

Exeposé

| WEEK ONE

Welcome to Exeter’s Campus Cinema Amy Hubbard presents the city’s cheapest (and possibly best) cinema CAMPUS CINEMA, the University of Exeter’s very own student led cinema society, lies at the heart of the campus, both literally (it’s in Devonshire House, right next to the Forum) and, I like to think, metaphorically as a friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic community dedicated to sharing the magic and escapism of cinema. Showing a range of films including recent blockbusters, independents and classics, all at ridiculously cheap prices, this is a fantastic and highly economical way to spend an evening. It is also a sneaky way of avoiding an assignment deadline, catching up on a summer blockbuster that your friends won’t stop talking about or an excuse to swap all those bowls of pasta and supermarket ready meals for a nice healthy dose of popcorn and sweets (both of which are conveniently on sale right outside the cinema). With film festivals, outdoor screenings and collaborations with other so-

cieties going on throughout the year there will always be something to catch your eye. And the society is not about simply showing films. The regular film quizzes and numerous themed socials that happen every term mean that Campus Cinema is also a great way to get involved in campus life, make lots of friends and have some good old discussions about why Alan Rickman is so indescribably awesome in Die Hard or why Leonardo DiCaprio has not won an Oscar yet. Seriously, why? Look out for the new Autumn Term programmes being distributed across campus for a list of upcoming films and events and also details about the fantastic membership offers. Screenings take place in the M&D Room in Devonshire House on Tuesdays and Sundays at 6:30 and 9:00pm (subject to running time) so come along for an inexpensive evening of cinematic glitz, glamour, escapism and popcorn.

Campus Cinema Term One Freshers’ Week - Week Six Tuesday 17 September: Sunday 13 October: Byzantium Star Trek Into Darkness Thursday 19 September: The World’s End Sunday 22 September Monsters University (Disney Society collaboration)

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Tuesday 15 October: The Wolverine Sunday 20 October: The Place Beyond the Pines Tuesday 22 October: Populaire

Tuesday 24 September: Sunday 27 October: The Great Gatsby Pacific Rim Sunday 29 September: Tuesday 29 October: Eye of the Storm Hanna Arendt (Politics Society and DepartTuesday 1 October: ment Collaboration The Bling Ring and opportunities week event) Sunday 6 October: Man of Steel Sunday 3 November: World War Z Tuesday 8 October: Despicable Me 2

Behind the scenes: who are XTV? Becky Mullen, Games Editor, introduces the student television station XTV is the university’s very own film and television station. They are run entirely for students by students, and have produced everything from skit shows and dramatic feature films to stop-animation, news bulletins, documentaries, live broadcasts and more. If you fancy directing, writing, editing, filming or starring in your own project, XTV is the society for you! Becoming a member of XTV gives you access to everything you need to make your own film or television show. No experience is necessary to get involved and most of their members learn

Fancy directing, writing, editing, filming or starring in your own project? XTV is the society for you! on the spot from each other. By joining you will get full use of their equipment, editing suite, and, more importantly, the other members! XTV is a friendly, welcoming team of students always willing to help each other out. So if you’ve got an amazing film idea but don’t know

where to start, they can help. If you know exactly what to do and just need someone to hold a boom pole at a funny angle, they can do that too. Or if you just want to jump in and learn some useful media skills while having a lot of fun and making new friends – well, you get the idea. And XTV isn’t just for people interested in production - lots of opportunities are available in front of the camera too! If you’re interested in trying screen acting or presenting, they’ll help you put together your own show reel, with lots of fun and friends along the way. If you can’t make their Freshers’ taster sessions, d r o p by one of their shoots or members’ meetings. For updates, crew-calls, and audition info, follow them on Facebook

or Twitter (@XTVOnline) - and make sure to check out their award-winning content at xtvonline.co.uk!

So where’s good for popcorn? Megan Furborough, Screen Editor, debates the pros and and cons of a variety of cinemas on offer in Exeter FOR a small city, there are a lot of ways that you can see the latest films. Aside from Campus Cinema, which is the cheapest cinema in Exeter, we have an Odeon, Vue and Picturehouse, as well as the Phoenix. But whilst there are a number of places to grab your popcorn, each cinema has its own respective quirks. The Odeon and Vue in town are your typical multiplexes - air-conditioning blasting all year round, the familiar stick of well-trodden popcorn under your feet and gigantic screens are pretty standard fare. The number of screens at each venue means that they can show all the latest films, and for your big blockbusters you may even be able to catch a midnight screening. But as you may expect, they’re pretty soulless and you pay a premium for slowly turning into an icicle over the course of 120 minutes. And the prices vary between the two. At the Odeon, an off-peak student ticket is £4.65, rising to £5.50 at peak times. In contrast, an off-peak student ticket

at Vue is £6.95, rising to a peak time price of £8.15. All in all, if you want to go to a multiplex, go to the Odeon – it’s cheaper, closer to the high street and seeing as neither cinema is particularly special, at least here you’ll have some money left over for snacks. However, if you want to catch a film that’s a little different, or just want to see the latest film in a nicer setting, independent is definitely the way to go. The Exeter Picturehouse is located at the bottom of town, but is well worth the walk. Equipped with a lovely restaurant and bar, there are two screens which show a mixture of Hollywood, art-house, world and independent cinema. It’s spacious, clean and the staff are really friendly. On a Monday you can get a half price student ticket for just £3 and the E4 Slackers Club, which offers free screenings of films every month, is partnered with Picturehouses. What’s more, the seats recline, meaning that sitting in the front row doesn’t require extensive back and neck surgery.

The Phoenix isn’t a cinema, but is a hidden gem when it comes to seeing something alternative and special. Most of the films are projected on 35mm film, a rarity when most cinemas have gone digital in the past few years, and there are often special screenings such as live orchestras and Q&As. There are also regular film nights including Kino Queerling, which showcases queer and cult cinema and each year the Phoenix presents the Two Short Nights film festival. Even more enticingly, their normal screening tickets are just £5.50. The Phoenix isn’t a standard cinema, which makes the experience of seeing films here even better. So really, it all comes down to you. What do you like watching? What’s your price limit? Do you want a box of popcorn the size of a child? There’s no right answer. But with our handy guide to the cinemas in Exeter, Screen hope that you all get out to the cinema as much as humanly possible – wherever you choose!

As Hot As... the hot or nots of this summer’s film news BRYAN CRANSTON – the Breaking Bad star was rumoured to be cast as Lex Luthor in the upcoming Batman vs. Superman but this was quickly denied by the producers. Sadly for us there will be no bald baddie slinging Kryptonite.

Deadline Day

RYAN GOSLING - Initially attached to direct and star in a remake of The Idolmaker, Justin Timberlake has picked up the reins after Gosling dropped out due to a busy schedule. We know who we’d prefer.

DESPICABLE ME 2 – Universal has revealed that the second installment in the hit series is now the most profitable film they have ever released, grossing more than $663.6 million worldwide. In short, minions make EVERYTHING better.

SCHOOL OF ROCK – After ten years, Jack Black and co. reunited in Austin, playing the movie’s hit song one more time. Despite reports that the draft for a sequel has been left out in the cold, it’s great to see the whole cast back together again.

MACBETH – Marion Colliard has been confirmed for the role of Lady Macbeth in the upcoming adaptation of the Shakespeare classic. Starring alongside Michael Fassbender, the pair will surely strike up a fantastic on-screen chemistry.

Christian Grey

ey.com/uk/careers Come to our event and discover how to take your career further, faster.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013, 6:00pm The Devonshire Suite, The Rougemont Hotel, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SP

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Books

Book Shelf Although students might have been on holiday the summer of 2013 was full of highs and lows for the literary world... 1. Superstar Scandal The Cuckoo’s Calling was huge news this summer, not for its content but for the identity of its writer. Published under the name Robert Galbraith, the book was later revealed to be penned by none other than Exeter graduate JK Rowling, and rapidly rose through the Amazon rankings. 2. Austen’s Bling When Kelly Clarkson purchased a ring belonging to Jane Austen she had no idea of the storm her £150,000 buy would cause. The American songstress outbid the Jane Austen’s House Museum but they have mounted a campaign to keep it in the country. 3. Seamus Heaney Heaney was not only famous for his collections of poetry, such as District and Circle, but also for his translations of works, including Beowulf. At the time of his death his work had made up two thirds of all sales of UK living poets. 4. Booker Longlist was announced From a list of 151 this year’s Man Booker judges produced a longlist of 13 books, which will be further whittled down for the shortlist before the winner is announced on the 15 October. 5. Tribute Camp A summer camp in Florida came under fire when it took inspiration from Suzanne Collins’ best selling trilogy The Hunger Games. The losers of camp challenges were said to have been ‘killed’ and children at the camp reportedly began talking about whether they would prefer to be stabbed or shot. The theme was dropped. ELLI CHRISTIE AND EMMA HOLIFIELD, BOOKS EDITORS

BOOKS

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BOOKS EDITORS

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Let your reading habits turn over a new leaf

Emma Holifield, Books Editor, gives advice on how to keep reading, and enjoying it, when faced with the multiple distractions of university life

IF you’re anything like me, you spent the summer before university devouring books you’d been wanting to read for months. Enjoyable? Yes. Trashy? Probably! But who cares? You could finally enjoy reading without feeling guilty about that abandoned copy of Hamlet or side-lined biology notes. Results day finally comes. Whether Exeter was your top choice or you wound up here another way, I hope that you felt excited to have gained a place at such a fantastic institution.

On those few sunny days, there is no better place to enjoy a book than the rolling hills of the beautiful campus Throughout summer, university emails come thick and fast. From eagerly awaited accommodation news (*cough* choose Lopes *cough*), to, more inexplicably, messages from Original Sin (How?! Did UCAS pass on my email address??), your inbox quickly becomes inundated with all things Exeter. Inevitably, emails relating to why you’re actually coming to university find themselves in the pile: your degree.

Whatever your subject, you have no doubt received a daunting reading list and whether you rushed off to Amazon or groaned and ignored the message, you can only get away with using Spark Notes for so long. Eventually you will have to at least glance at the required reading. Keeping up with this alongside other aspects of university means reading for fun often falls to the bottom of your priorities. By Christmas, when yet another reading list arrives, you may have begun to associate the written word with purely scholarly pursuits. But, like other features of uni life, making sure you continue to enjoy reading is about adapting your habits. DISCOVER THE CAMPUS: Admittedly, rain-free days in Exeter are rare. But on those few sunny days, there is no better place to enjoy a book than the rolling hills of the beautiful campus. ALTERNATIVE TO TV: The quicker you accept that Exeter’s internet isn’t great, the fewer flatmates you will alarm when you start screaming at your computer when Neighbours stops loading AGAIN! Just me? Whatever you’re trying to watch, turning to literary pursuits is much more relaxing than agitatedly watching your favorite show load painfully slowly. BE PICKY: With so little time to read for pleas-

ure, if you’re still unenthused by page 100, stop. Get a friend to recommend something they enjoyed. It may even help you bond over shared interests. ‘FLASH FICTION’: Short stories are a growing trend. The rise of Kindles has led to a focus on ‘flash fiction’ and ‘commuter novellas’ that can be read in the average time it takes to get to work. Although, working in the real world can be ignored for now, the brevity of these short pieces, makes them fantastic quick reads. REVIST YOUR CHILDHOOD: Always wondered what happened to the Pevensies? Somehow never finished Harry Potter? Children’s classics are designed to quickly capture the imagination and will happily transport you away from essay stress. However, although your uni friends probably love these childhood favorites,

it might be best to keep copies of Narnia on the down-low to start with! POETRY: Poetry isn’t always short, (think The Odyssey!). However, since they are generally shorter than novels, poems are often just as insightful and well-crafted, if not more so due to their diminutive length. MAGAZINES: Rushing to get the latest glossy fashion mag may appeal to you. However, with the magazine world offering plenty of other choices, treating yourself to an issue on a topic that interests you is a great wordy way to while away an afternoon.

Make sure you don’t lose your enjoyment of reading and whenever you find yourself particularly enthused by a literary pursuit, keep us posted at Exeposé Books!

Exeposé Books demonstrates there is something for everyone to read in magazines Popshot Magazine POPSHOT MAGAZINE is a beautifully illustrated literary magazine which publishes a collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry from brand new writers. The latest issue, themed around imagination, may well be a welcome break to compulsory course reading for the year ahead, even if you are an English student. Although the imagination issue is, as explained in the editorial, a bit darker in subject matter than one might expect, Popshot is an easy and pleasurable read, and perhaps most importantly for a literary magazine, unpretentious. Not all of the poetry is quite as innovative as stand-outs like the shape poem A Family Visit by Charlotte Wetton, and I didn’t make it through all of the short stories, but the flash fiction by itself makes this magazine worth buying. Gravity by Krishan Coupland and The Light Eater by Kirsty Logan were particular highlights, as was Bath by Emily Ilett, all refreshingly innovative pieces as well as

being excellent sources of escapism. Outstanding work by both writers and illustrators fills sixty odd ages, and it is evident that a great deal of thought has been invested in Popshot. Popshot Magazine also wel-

A welcome break from compulsory course reading comes submissions, now collecting content for their October issue after having achieved national and international success. It’s definitely worth a look, and it even managed to perform the magical task of making me want to read for pleasure again after the trauma of last summer’s exams. CLARA PLACKETT DEPUTY EDITOR

Doghouse Magazine ALTHOUGH the British pub is supposedly on the decline Doghouse proves that there is still much to be celebrated. It features pieces on pub regulars, such as Aubrey who taught Richard Gere to play darts, and explains why beer sommeliers are just as necessary as those for wine. Each issue focuses on pubs within in a ten mile radius, with previous issues focusing on London and Birmingham. Hopefully there will be an issue on Exeter’s multiple pubs soon to bring some new favourites out for trial! While many people might swear off alcohol forever following several Freshers hangovers the carefully designed pages of Doghouse would definitely entice many back to prop up their local pub bar for many more evenings to follow. Throughout the magazine large images spring from the pages to remind the reader of what pubs looked like in

a golden age of beverages. Sadly even some of these pubs are coming to the end of their lives as landlords give up and drinking habits change. For those that savour a bitter and

Doghouse will provide endless hours of rereading and field expeditions have a craving for pork scratchings Doghouse will prove to be a magazine which will provide endless hours of rereading and prolonged field expeditions. The magazine is published quarterly with the next issue out in September.

elli christie books EDITOR

books

Condensed Condensed Classics Classics A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway (1929)

‘I don’t know about the soul.’ ‘Poor boy. We none of us know about the soul.’ ALTHOUGH relatively short in length, Ernest Hemingway’s novel is both an incredibly sweeping and intensely personal narrative of wartime life and passionate love. The tale - told through the eyes of an American fighting for the Italian Army in World War I - is divided into five books, each one covering a new epoch in the narrator’s life. Long, sprawling sentences allow the reader to see the Italian cities, landscapes, and horrendous war zones in exquisite, atmospheric detail. This, combined with Hemingway’s thorough focus on his narrator’s stream-of-conscience thoughts, makes the American, his beloved Catherine, and the war effort itself seem inconsequential in the face of nature. carmen paddock

The Ultimate Student Cookbook Fiona Beckett WHEN you start university, one of the many questions you’ll probably have is the frankly essential one of how to feed yourself. Student cooking has a pretty poor reputation, and there are more clichés than you can shake a celery stick at about the supposed ineptitude of students in the kitchen. And while there are some students who are content to eat nothing but beans on toast and microwaveable pizzas, there are others who would prefer that their food is actually edible. I fell firmly into the latter category – which is how, when I set off for university, a small library of cookbooks found its way into my luggage alongside the saucepans and bedding. Despite having to set aside an entire shelf in my new bedroom for cookbooks, it was The Ultimate Student Cookbook that supplied me with most

When you start university, one of the many questions you’ll probably have is the frankly essential one of how to feed yourself of the recipes I’d ever need. It’s one of the most user-friendly books out there. Refreshingly, it isn’t patronising (even the most kitchen-phobic student would probably agree that step-by-step instructions on

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Publishing profile: Steff Lever

Exeposé

Exeposé Books chats with Steff Lever about career path and joining your student newspaper STEFF LEVER, publishing intern turned professional, gained a coveted job at a top media company before she’d even graduated. Only four weeks after finishing her university course, the numerous placements she’d completed throughout her degree landed her a job at IPC Media. Her blog, Diary of a Publishing Professional, offers insights into Steff’s professional development as well as posting up to date lists of placements in both the book and magazine world. Steff speaks to Exeposé Books about her experiences and offers some pertinent advice for students thinking of going into similar careers.

use both her interest for reading as well as allowing her to explore the different options that a career in publishing provides. Currently whilst working as a PA and Office Manager at IPC Media she is able to dabble in editorial, publishing and marketing “to really gage what career [she] would like”. However, she doesn’t believe it’s necessary for a graduate to know exactly what career path they want to embark on - “when you’re young, it’s the perfect time to experiment with new things so there’s certainly no rush in deciding upon a career path”.

When you’re young... there’s certainly no rush in deciding upon a career path Like many students, Steff had not decided on her career path when she arrived at university. Instead, she realised that publishing was for her when she began doing internships which proved to how to heat a can of soup and advice not to eat stuff from the bin are a little irksome) but its recipes are clear enough to follow whatever your level of experience or severity of hangover, and you aren’t expected to have a kitchen brimming with saffron and oysters. The book starts with introductory

Its recipes are clear enough to follow whatever your level of experience or severity of hangover information about cooking, which covers important topics such as kitchen equipment, shopping on a budget, and basic food safety. It’s divided into chapters which make it easy to find a suitable recipe whether you’re cooking for yourself or a larger group, and there’s also a great chapter on desserts and cocktails (yay!). Throughout the book there are pages on basic techniques, such as cooking pasta and stir-frying. The index helpfully lists both recipes and common ingredients – invaluable for those moments when you’re up to your ears in courgettes (trust me, it happens – special offers are a double-edged sword). This book achieves the rare ideal of being both reassuring and inspiring – it covers probably every dish you’ll want to cook, from homely classics to adventurous dishes that make you feel like a culinary genius.

emma lock

In 2011 Steff started Diary of a Publishing Professional because she felt that whilst students are constantly encouraged to take placements and do internships they prove difficult to find and gain. Therefore her blog not only offers hints and tips for those hoping to break into the industry but also advertises the current opportunities that are available, such as paid internships and job vacancies. The current plan for Steff’s blog is to continue to record her career as it progresses and provide readers with further information about the publishing industry. She hopes that by ‘document[ing] [her] own experiences.. others will find it insightful’. Some tips that Steff has for new students who are considering a career in publishing is to join your student newspaper as “that’s publishing experience that can go straight on the CV”. She would also recommend “getting involved in anything that you

enjoy and anything that will put useful skills on your CV, such as teamwork”. As a final question we caught up with what Steff has been reading recently. Apart from the reviews that she regularly posted on her blog she particularly recommended Letters from Leaders by Henry O. Dormann since “it’s a great choice for a book that you can dip in and out of whilst studying”.

Get involved in anything that you enjoy and anything that will put useful skills on your CV More information is available on Steff’s blog: diaryofapublishingintern. blogspot.com and she is more than happy for any one who is thinking of going into publishing to contact her by twitter (@steff_lever) or email (steff.lever@ gmail.com).

Any Last Words? For a special longer edition of Any Last Words we asked for literary based advice for those experiencing the chaotic confusion of Freshers’ Week for the first time. ‘Men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars’ The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Don’t get too invested or worried about people in Freshers week, good friends take time to make for a reason. RORY MORGAN ‘In the midst of slaughter, the Lord of the Crossing sat on his carved oaken throne, watching greedily’ George RR Martin’s Storm Of Swords. The famous Red Wedding, one of the greatest parties in recent literature, serves as a reminder to all freshers that any night involving drink, coitus and good cheer has the potential to end in carnage. JOSH GRAY “I ate the brownie, and it tasted a little weird, but it was still a brownie, so I still liked it. But this was not an ordinary brownie.” Charlie’s first house party in The Perks of Being a Wallflower reminds us all to be a bit wary on nights out, but still to kick back, have fun, and enjoy our new friends. CARMEN PADDOCK “Why, the dress, you poor dear, the picture you copied of the girl in the gallery. It was what Rebecca did at the last fancy dress ball at Mander-

ley. Identical. The same picture, the same dress. You stood there on the stairs, and for one ghastly moment I thought...” - from Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. There won’t be any shortage of fancy-dress or costume-themed parties and nights out at uni - but try and put your own stamp on your outfit, rather than copying anyone else. SHEFALI SRIVASTAVA “’Have some wine,’ the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. `I don’t see any wine,’ she remarked.” The Tea Party in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. In short, always bring your own booze; mine-sweeping is no way to get drunk. ROB HARRIS ‘You’d better hurry up mate or all the good ones will be gone’ Fred Weasley’s advice on dates for the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Couples that get together in Freshers’ Week always stay together, just as the Yule Ball proves to be successful for Harry, Ron and Hermione. EMMA HOLIFIELD

parties, circus parties, almost naked parties in St. John’s Wood, parties in flats and studios and houses and ships and hotels and nightclubs, in windmills and swimming baths ... all the succession and repetition of massed humanity. ... Those vile bodies.” - Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh. Sometimes it can feel like there can be too much of a good thing when going out night after night! ELLI CHRISTIE “Call me Ishmael” from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick Be careful who you phone - Phoning home too often can make you lonely but don’t give out your number to every random stranger (or white whale). MEG DREWETT In Jane Eyre, Rochester shows up at a party dressed up as a gypsy to read people’s future. He takes his time reading Jane’s before making her the happiest woman by telling her that he won’t be marrying Blanche, the other woman. A party is a place where you can do the craziest, and most cringe, things for the ones you care about. So go out there and do them fearlessly, stupidly, and lovingly. NAOMI POLTIER

“Masked parties, savage parties, Victorian parties, Greek parties, Russian

Any Last Words is a quick and easy way to get in the paper, with a question every fortnight which can be answered through the Exeposé Books Facebook group, @exeposebooks, books@ exepose.com.

ARTS

Arts

Arts Diary Our regular Arts Diary column shows you all the important events going on in Exeter Freshers’ Week...

Art

Art Society - life drawing @ Cornwall Houe Room 3 18 September, 2-4pm

Dance

DanceSport - salsa taster session @The Great Hall 19 September 2-4pm University Danceafternoon tea @The Ram Beer Garden 19 September 4-5pm

Fashion

Fashion Society - DIY workshop @Harrison 102 21 September 1-4:30pm

Exeposé

ARTS EDITORS

Sophy Coombes-Roberts & Ricky Freelove arts@exepose.com JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP Exeposé Arts

Say the magic word

Exeposé Arts Editors, Sophy Coombes-Roberts and Ricky Freelove, caught up with Britain’s leading illusionist Derren Brown to talk trickery, art and the future of magic TEN years ago, the commercial world of magic was dominated by Blaine, Copperfield and duo Penn and Teller. From hosting television shows, to live airings of groundbreaking tricks, they revolutionised the craft allowing everyone and anyone to experience magical spectacles right from their living rooms. Since then, the enormity of such tricks and illusions escalated wildly in terms of scale, skill and danger, yet for some reason magicians seemed to struggle in capturing the same interest of the 1990s. That was until a certain man entered the scene with a bang, shocking the public with his astounding debut mind-reading show. Heads started to turn, and a hype built up around this magician claiming to have no psychic ability whatsoever, yet performing extraordinary tricks of illusion and mentalism. Now a household name, Derren Brown is undoubtedly the biggest illusionist in Britain, but the big question is: what is his secret? How was he able to create such a buzz around his act whilst others failed miserably? We were lucky enough to grab a few moments with the man himself to reveal the tricks of his trade.

Theatre

Sadly it’s very easy to make magic that just works for TV - the real test of a magician is still a live performance

Footlights - meet and greet @ The Ram 17 September, 3-6pm

Of course the first thing we had to ask was exactly that: to what does he attribute his past ten years of success to? “A refusal to keep doing the same thing”, that is the simple answer replies Brown. “The shows have changed dramatically every couple of years and grown up with me. Again, a guy doing tricks isn’t inherently that

EUTco - taster session @ M & D Room 16 September, 1-2:30pm

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interesting. In fact it’s sort of a bit sad. So if you don’t move on and grow up, you’ll quickly outlive your audience’s interest. I think my developing lack of enthusiasm for magic has, more than anything, allowed me to do something more interesting with it.”

Magic in the 21st Century Brown’s career has seemingly paved the way for other British magicians to capture the attention of the public. His act has not only inspired others, but helped rebuild a market in which British magicians can thrive. With stars such as Pete Firman and Dynamo enjoying a taste of the limelight, Brown is happy to agree that the popularity of magic is increasing: “It’s very popular at the moment” he comments. “My first show was a response to Blaine’s popularity, as more directly were Paul Zenon’s shows. If something does well then more like it tends to spring up. The Dynamo and Ben Earl magic shows since have used the production teams behind my own shows to try to get the same feel in theirs. It’s all good fun and it’s lovely to watch them be so successful. A general rise in popularity can only be a good thing. If it’s done well – sadly it’s very easy to make magic that just works for TV – I think the real test of a magician is still a live performance.” Despite working on numerous hit television shows in the past, Brown admits he has a soft spot for live performances. However, he admits shows such as “Penn & Teller’s Fool Us, even that Masked Magician series, suggest that it (magic) is still finding an enthusiastic TV audience at least, and therefore creating a lot of new magicians.”

So is that how he has become such a sensation? Brown has had success both on screen and in shows. In fact his most recent tour Infamous was a total sell out. His tricks are getting bigger and better so we asked could he take it one step further and entertain stadiums? Comedians have certainly done so, progressing from the Apollo to arena tours. Is this his next big trick?

The problem with magic being an art is that it is inherently dishonest Brown is unsure: “Mentalism and much of magic would need re-thinking to work in a stadium venue”, he concedes, “but I think this would be an exciting challenge. For me it’s about creating something out of the space that serves the type of performance. People trapped in a n

old building with me is a nice starting point for my theatre shows so they suit me well. I’d have to re-think that relationship – and therefore the material - if I were playing a stadium. When the venue doesn’t serve the perform a n c e – like watching a comedian in a stadium and you end up watching the screens and it feels like you might as well be at home watching it on TV – that’s

Dannee McGuire discusses the death of magic as we know it... IS there still place on the 21st century stage for magic? In a world of instantly available and popular entertainment, it would seem that magic is a dying art. There is no longer a prevalent, serious public interest in extrasensory and paranormal effects. The typical image of a magician in a top hat with a rabbit is, today, a rare and comical figure. Although there are some performers who still class themselves as magicians, such as the popular Dynamo, most performers who claim to have

magical powers are criticised and ridiculed. The standard example of this is of course Uri Geller, who claimed his abilities to bend spoons and describe hidden drawings were a demonstration of psychokinesis and telepathy. Instead, magic is becoming more commonly reclassified and presented as ‘illusionism’, although it still uses many time-old and traditionally-based ‘magic’ tricks. Stage presences, such as Derren Brown, are popular for their reassuring determination to ensure the audience is aware

that there is always an explanation behind his stage tricks. Although Brown often deceives the audience in exactly how the magic is performed, he never claims to have any paranormal or psychic abilities, and denounces those who do. Penn & Teller are another notable example; often claiming to reveal the secrets behind their tricks (for example, using transparent cups in the common cups and balls trick), they misdirect the audience in order to re-mystify the very trick they have just debunked (for

example, adding a potato into the cups and balls trick). Magic, therefore, in the late 20th and early 21st century, is becoming a more versatile category. Instead of fooling audiences that magic is real, they work on the premise magic is illusion, thus modernising from exploiting belief into exploiting disbelief. In assuring the audience that magical tricks are not “magic” and demystifying old magic tricks as an example, performers nonetheless continue to distort and revive these same

age-old tricks to provide even more complex and disorientating illusions. Yet an additional problem facing the popularity of magic today is the rise of technology: both in terms of using technological advancements to carry out a trick more efficiently, and in the technology of broadcasting magic. Although technology can and does help performers conceal tricks, there is something reductive and disappointing in simple, technologically based answers to seemingly complex performances. This is compounded by the use of television to broadcast

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formance - like watching a comedian in a stadium and you end up watching the screens and it feels like you might as well be at home watching it on TV – that’s no fun, and it’s soul-destroying for the performer too.” On TV, in a stadium or theatre, Derren Brown’s tricks are consistently jaw-dropping. However, perhaps his most appealing factor is that he is a self-confessed fraud, admitting he has no psychic ability whatsoever. So how does he produce magic shows, with such self confession? It’s all about the performance. He stresses: “if I don’t sell the ‘magic’ moments in the show, with varying light and shade, and in a way that’s constantl interesting, the show will be dull, however impossible the magic is. No-one will care, it’ll be reduced to a man demonstrating things he can do better than you can. Noone wants to see that.”

Magic an

Art

as Form

Up to this point in the interview Brown has established where he sees the place of magic within the commercial world, but how does he see it fitting in with the arts? Magician Alex Geiser has openly voiced his belief that art should be defined as an outward form of expression, a category which he sees magic fitting into. Yet others have classed the methodology behind magic as a sci-

ence, with the performance aspect of the shows falling under a form of art. Brown disagrees with all of these preconceptions. “The problem with magic being an art is that it is inherently dishonest” he jokes referring to his lack of supernatural abilities. “Plus something can be art but bad art: good

Don’t let it make you into that guy who needs it to feel impressive. It’s bad for your life and it’s bad for your magic

art has to fit on the end of a developing, dynamic narrative about what art does rather than statements about what is or isn’t. Currently that narrative is about challenging us, so if magic is to be worthwhile art it would first need to be made to be genuinely challenging. But I still think the honesty problem is difficult to surmount. Or at least that’s only a problem if you have artistic pretensions, and I certainly don’t. But what about magicians who believe their acts are honest, such as those who genuinely believe they can connect with the dead, does this overcome the problem? Unfortunately is that it fails as theatre as it’s being offered as truth. So it just becomes a scam, and it would be odd to dignify it with the label art.” Despite this dismissal, Brown is certainly no stranger to the world of the art. Although he is known for his magic shows, when he is not touring or performing, he devotes his free time to painting. In fact he is happy to let artwork influence his performances as seen in his 2011 ‘Svengali’ tour where he painted a portrait upside down during the show. To this observation Brown admits: “I’d wanted to

do a painting piece for a long time, and we’d played around with a different portrait routine in the early previews of that show (which was OK, but it was a slow piece followed by another slow piece which is theatrical suicide). So I worked on the idea with my fellow co-writers. I think it’s always interesting to see a real skill at work quite aside from magic-making, and it ended up being the strongest thing in the show.”

Student Magic What’s that you may ask? Most universities don’t even run a ‘magic society’ – or if they do, we certainly don’t know about it. So why is there such a gap in popularity between amateur societies such as dramatics, and amateur magician societies? “Fewer people are interested in magic. Less is known about it, which makes sense given its arcane nature. Plus I think magic appeals to a particular urge to impress people through the quickest, most fraudulent route, so that’s most likely to appeal to people who perhaps don’t feel that impressive. That’s not quite the same as a wider desire to perform.” That being said, we made sure to glean a final snippet of information from Britain’s leading magician, asking what he would say to Exeter students who are interested in learning more about magic tricks, illusions or hypnosis? To that he comically replied:

I think it’s always interesting to see a real skill at work quite aside from magicmaking “Don’t let it make you into that guy who needs it to feel impressive. It’s bad for your life, and it’s bad for your magic. People have to like you when you perform, and they won’t if you haven’t worked out how to relate to people without talking about or doing magic. So read and learn and all the rest of it, but keep one foot in real life.” Derren Brown is coming to the final stages of his ‘Infamous’ tour. Catch him in the flesh at the Bristol Hippodrome during 21-26 April. In addition to this he tells us there should be an exhibition of his portraits (the right way up) at the Rebecca Hossack gallery in London next year.

where home audiences are inevitably even more separated from the performance, and thus more sceptical of the possibility of post-production edits and effects behind the shows. To resolve this, the most popular televised form of magic show is the artist performing in front of a studio or stage audience, in order to reassure the remote viewer that the illusions are really happening in “real time”. As technology enables more complicated tricks to be performed and shows to be broadcast to wider audiences, the magician faces the connected challenge of

continuing to engage and mystify the audience in order to convince the audience of the virtues of showmanship, mentalism and illusion, as opposed to simple technological trickery. Magic as we once knew it – the wizard pulling a rabbit out of his hat, the deliberate insistence on concealment over revealing – is, certainly, a dying art. Instead, the subtle combination of exposure, explanation and misdirection – the balance between revealing and further disillusion – are enjoying

resurgence, both televised and live. Magic, like all arts, is endlessly reviving through the renovation of old tricks and illusions, whilst at once unceasingly inventing new illusions. Through the recategorization of magic as illusionism, and the insistence on traditional forms of presentation such as stage performances, magic in the 21st century is in fact a living art – continuously resurrecting and reinventing itself whilst still grounded by age-old and timeless principles.

ARTS

Exe at the Fringe Herons The Edinburgh Fringe

1-31 May 2013 OPENING with a single spotlight shining onto a frightened looking youth stood clutching a revolver in shaking hands with tears streaming down an innocent face, EUTCO’s production of Herons by Simon Stephens instantly moves and engages. From the stunning cast through to the understated staging, this excellent production is an emotionally intense and engrossing hour of top quality theatre. Dealing with the lives of a broken community a year after the brutal murder of a thirteen year old girl named Rachel, Herons details the journey of fourteen year old Billy and his involvement with the gang responsible for Rachel’s death, an event witnessed by his father Charlie. As the violent and vicious bullying of Billy and his friend Adele intensifies, Billy decides to take action in a naïve and desperate way. Played with a sense of confused innocence, Jamie Manton’s Billy epitomises the broken youth who desires to escape but is trapped behind a past he doesn’t deserve. A genuinely moving performance from Jamie is a real highlight of the show and is supported by the rest of the play’s exceptional cast. Hannah Lawrence plays Adele, another youth trapped by her background and desperate to find some hope amidst the

Nobel The Edinburgh Fringe

1-31 May 2013 DESPITE its controversies, few would deny the scientific significance of stem cell research, least of all Exeter based company Theatre with Teeth. Their Fringe show Nobel discusses the ethical questions posed by these scientific advances through physical theatre. At the centre of the loose plot is a woman who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, from this stems the thought processes of four interrelated characters who ponder over the scientific facts and the morality issues they present. The five person cast is delightfully diverse, illustrating the viewpoints of doctors, friends and even a lecturer with an absurd fascination for the subject. However, in just under an hour they barely scratched the surface of the topic. With no real grasp on the developments of stem cell research, this worked for me as I was still able to keep up with the action, yet for another audience member it may have lacked a slight philosophical or scientific complexity. Monologues, images and dynamic movement are used interchanging to create a piece of abstract physical

bleak life she leads whilst George Watkins plays the truly terrifying and malicious bully Scott, followed faithfully by his gang of two Aaron – Henry Fewster – and Darren – Jordan Edgington. Ryan Whittle and Kate Rayner also give great performances as Billy’s supportive father Charlie and alcoholic, abusive mother Michele respectively and overall the cast really bring the play to life. With one simple set, consisting solely of a wooden bench in the centre of the small stage, EUTCO’s Herons focuses on the human emotions involved in these violent situations without detracting from the emotive performances and Stephens’ cutting, contemporary script. The graphic displays of desperate violence leave a dull feeling in your stomach as you sit passively in the audience but wonder if you would even attempt to interact were you able, whilst other moments inspire a sense of hope for those who are stuck amongst this mess. Despite having witnessed a plethora of average theatre and comedy during my month at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, Herons does not rank in this category at all. It is one of the best pieces of theatre I have experienced this year in Edinburgh with an outstanding cast and brilliant script.

EMILY TANNER DEPUTY EDITOR

theatre. It is fast moving, but remains fluid, using interpretive dance to illustrate the ramifications of when “stem cell research will stop repairing and start upgrading”. The strong choreography successfully moves the production forward and mirrored the sentiments of the preceding dialogue. Yet, the visual images created using balloons containing glow sticks, UV paint and old video clips, really elevated the force of the overall performance. This experimental piece of theatre was both imaginative and thought provoking, as I really was forced to contemplate the morality of implementing stem cell technology in modern medicine. The company’s ability to influence their audience was largely down to the personal manner of performance. The frequent monologues worked to successfully bridge the gap between the performers and their audience, which in effect formed a potent and thought provoking relationship, where I was really made to evaluate the evidence presented to me on the stage. Daring yet delightful, the performance was undoubtedly a success at the Fringe and I am excited to see what Theatre with Teeth produce this year.

SOPHY COOMBES-ROBERTS ARTS EDITOR

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Saints Row IV

Rob Harris, Screen Editor, becomes President of the United States, rocks a flourescent pink afro and wields a dubstep gun... Saints Row IV Volition, Inc.

PS3/Xbox 360/PC Out Now TAKE a moment and try to name a game in which you can disarm a nuke, cure cancer and punch a guy in the dick all within a ten minute window. No luck? Well, if any of the above activities sound at least a little appealing, then Saints Row IV may just be what you’re searching for. As the new President of the United States, apparently elected through uncompromising badassery alone, right from the get-go it becomes apparent that developers, Volition, Inc., have upped the stakes. After all, why be the head of a

street-gang when you can be the head of the most powerful nation on Earth while sporting a fluorescent pink afro? Before you even get a chance to comprehend the possibilities that being the guy with access to the big red button could bring, Earth is enslaved by an alien empire led by the evil and charmingly camp Zinjak, a warlord with a fondness for brutal murder and Shakespeare. With all the captives now living trapped inside a computer simulation of the city of Steelport, it is up to the Boss and his crew to find a way to break free and rescue the human race. At first glance, things don’t seem too different from the shenanigans of Saints Row: The Third. There are cars to jack, bad guys to shoot and squishy pedestrians to make your bitches. However,

all of that changes when you find your first glitch in the system. By hacking the electronic universe around you, the player eventually builds up a diverse array of powers that range from super speed to explosive fireballs, all of which can be ranked up by collecting data clusters scattered around the city. As soon as you are let loose to smash, freeze, stomp and burn everything in sight, it becomes immediately clear that this is no longer just a goofier, coarser imitation of Rockstar North’s Grand Theft Auto series, or even a traditional sandbox game. The freedom, the intensity, and the mania, all band together in one resounding realisation – Saints Row IV is one of the best superhero games ever created. By brushing off the label of ‘GTAclone’ and taking further steps to em-

brace true mayhem, it has formed its own special niche in which it alone is king.

Saints Row IV is one of the best superhero games ever created Unfortunately, in amongst all the laughs, blasts, and tentacle-bats there are more than a few niggling annoyances that can at times yank you firmly out of the fun. Whilst many of the story and character missions contain some remarkably hilarious scenarios, to unlock some of the more insane weapons like the vortex gun, a rifle which shoots black holes,

you must also complete side-missions such as hacking shops, stealing vehicles and racing around the city. Despite being fun at first, repetition and lack of challenge soon becomes tiresome. To be given so much control over making your own fun, only to slow you down to a gruelling pace, undermines the very freedom the game works so hard to create. Of course, once you are handed back the reins, thrown over a dubstep gun and get sent on your way you can’t help but forgive it for its weaknesses. As a delightfully riotous love letter to gaming tropes laced with a wicked dose of pandemonium, Saints Row has grown up in the most immature way possible - and it is all the better for it.

New Friends, New Rivals: Let the games begin! Can you really game on your student budget? Rosie Howard shares her tips

GAMING during your first year can be, unfortunately, limited. Unless you are lucky enough to own your own console and television, many people are forced to leave their gaming days behind them. Even the games themselves are ridiculously expensive, as a £45 spend on one item does not fit well into a student budget. Playing console or PC games at university can also sometimes invoke the idea of people playing single player or online games for hours at a time, often on their own. But I think that gaming can be one of the most social pastimes at university, and can be achievable whilst not paying a small fortune. Nearly everyone has had some experience of gaming during his or her lives (even if at first they don’t admit it). Even though I see myself as being slightly old fashioned when it comes

to gaming (for example, I have never played Halo, let alone Call of Duty), I was surprised at how many people had had experience playing the same games as I did when they were growing up. Just mention the words Spyro or Crash Bandicoot in a conversation and more people than you think will join in, even to the point of starting a lengthy discussion on how Spyro was never the same when he moved to PS2. And though I am yet to meet anyone else who played Croc, or Sheep, Dog, Wolf, I am still holding out hope. So, if you do want to bring gaming to University, but can’t bring your newest console, then it could be a good idea to bring an older console. In my case, the first console to enter our corridor was a PS2 connected to a square, SD TV: very nostalgic. We could therefore only play either PS or PS2 games, and it was

amazing to see how many games people still owned, with hoarders, like me, still own every game they ever bought for that console, even if they don’t actually have the console any more. We had great fun revisiting games we hadn’t played in years, which were still enjoyable and challenging, whilst feeling fresh compared to modern games. Our top games included: Worms, a great strategy, multiplayer game which soon gets very competitive; Harry Potter Quidditich World Cup, a game which everyone seemed to remember playing, another great multiplayer game that gets hugely competitive (though I would advise not skipping the tutorial); and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, a game that a lot of my friends remembered, back from when film tie-in games could still be good. Between a group of people, you should be able to produce a huge number

Photo: EA Games

of classic games which have been sitting in the back of a cupboard just waiting for an excuse to be played again. It’s gaming on a student budget, avoiding you having to buy the newest games in order to get a gaming fix. Gaming is something that can be continued and enjoyed at university and,

in my opinion, is not something to necessarily be done alone. It will surprise you how quickly a rainy Exeter day can go by with everyone trying to get past level two of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. If anything, it helped remind us that maybe we were better at gaming when we were younger.

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Rhianna Pratchett: Digital Storyteller

Games Editor, Becky Mullen, quizzes the Tomb Raider writer over what makes games writing special, getting girls into gaming, and the controversy around Lara’s reboot Do you think games writing will ever have the same status as film? No. Because ultimately games are about the gameplay. At best a story can be an integral part of that, but it’s never going to become more important for the majority of developers (even with story heavy games). There’s certainly a section of players for whom story is the most important part of the game (which is why developers should take story development more seriously) but I’d say it’s a smaller section of players than those who just appreciate a solid, immersive gameplay experience. What advice would you give for students interested in becoming a games writer? There are no specific games writing courses that I know of, although many games design courses do now include modules on storytelling in games. However, there are many more books out there on games writing which provide lots of useful information. Professional Techniques for Videogame Writing is one that I’ve had a small part in, as it was put together by members of the IGDA’s Writers’ special interest group. You can find more information about the group at www.igda.org/writing. Photo: rhiannapratchett.com

WRITER for Mirror’s Edge, Overlord, and Bioshock Infinite, Rhianna Pratchett is no stranger to digital story-telling. We chat with her about what makes the industry different. What made you want to write for games, rather than just play them? My initial involvement in games writing was a result of seizing opportunities that came my way, rather than specifically going out to pursue a career in that field. Mainly this was because I didn’t really know that much about games narrative at the time. The industry wasn’t talking about it in the same way it does now. You rarely saw stories about it in the press or interviews with games writers. My first job came about because I was contacted by a developer who was looking for a

story editor to help with their next game. I’d enjoyed their previous titles and it seemed like an interesting line of work. After that finished, I realised that there was a gap in the market when it came to games narrative and started to look for more jobs where I could build on my skills.

A story has to fit around a game, rather than game around a story

What would you say is the main difference between writing for games and other mediums? In other entertainment mediums the story and script comes first. It’s core to everything. In games it’s almost always subject to the needs of gameplay and level design. Therefore a story has to fit around a game, rather than a game being designed to fit around a story.

You’ve spoken before about the controversy surrounding Lara’s transformation in Tomb Raider and people’s assumption that it would be handled badly. Why do you think that was? I think issues surrounding women in videogames and in the industry itself were hot-topics at the time, and still are. What surprised me is that there was such a lot of almost gleeful finger-pointing from inside the industry. Some of that can certainly be put down to click-bait. People started making assumptions on other people’s assumptions (people who had not played that sequence of the game in context) and it just became an echo chamber of assumptions. It was frustrating because that’s exactly the kind of thing that the wider media often does to videogames (i.e. judges them out of context.) If we can’t stop ourselves doing it to our own, then we have no right to be outraged when others do it to us.

I don’t think we were tackling a hard-hitting issue, to be honest, given what you see in the game, which is only one part of a series of challenges that Lara must face and overcome. So many players thought they’d missed the bit that caused the controversy because they assumed it must have been much more than the one scene given the Internet fire that it started. The way that scene was initially talked about was unfortunate and inaccurate. However, the debate it caused definitely had some value. Namely about how we talk about female characters and the relationship between player and player character. It also revealed that as a community we still have our own self-prejudices to address.

As a community we still have our own self-prejudices to address You’ve been involved in projects like ‘Little Miss Geek’ which aim to bring more women into the industry. Why do you think fewer women are interested in games and technology in the first place? I think it’s largely to do with the fact that young girls are not encouraged to get involved with tech in the same way as young boys are. Therefore they grow up thinking that it’s not for them. I think the perception of the industry certainly doesn’t help, but the general lack of knowledge about the careers and opportunities within it are more damaging.

GAMES

Sandbox In which video game location would you have rather spent your summer holidays? Kanto. Getting lashed on Mt Moon with your mates and waiting for the Clefairys to come out dancing would be trippy as hell. Jon Jenner Besaid or Kilika from Final Fantasy X! Jack Merrell Columbia for the journey there, but perhaps Skyloft or the land in Wind Walker, as long as I get a bird, a boat and a sword. Kate Gray The churched themed club in VtM:B. Rob Newnham Post-Himiko Yamatai. Cute animals, lots of souvenirs and tranquil weather. Just ignore the corpses! Gemma Joyce Skyrim. It’s like going on holiday to Scandinavia. With extra dragons. Becky Mullen Hogwarts, from the first Harry Potter game...because it’s still HOGWARTS even if it looks more like a fancy turd. Natalie Garces-Bovett

Who is your favourite video game character and why? Would you ever want to write them? I really enjoyed the wry and sardonic Garrett from the Thief games and he’s definitely a character I’d like to write for. I adored all the characters in Psychonauts and I’d loved to see a sequel to that game. However, I don’t think Tim Schafer needs my narrative help! I think some of the biggest challenges ahead lie in new IP and character creation. Which is your favourite platform? Are you excited for the next-gen consoles? It’s not about the tech for me, it’s always about the games. I remain, as always, hopeful!

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Feature

With new Athletic Union President, Alex Powell, settling into her new role, Exeposé Sport went up to the Sports Park to see what’s new with the AU Q. So Alex, you’re a few weeks into your job, how excited are you to get started properly?

A. Probably far too excited! You will be sure to see me running around like a headless chicken during Freshers’ week trying to get people to take part in the numerous sports tasters throughout the week. University is a fantastic opportunity to try new sports so make sure you throw yourself at everything and anything!

Sunday 22 September at the Activities Fair, which takes place in the Sports Park, where all the AU clubs will have stands. You can sign up to your chosen AU clubs as well as getting loads of freebies!

Q. What is your main aim as the new AU president?

A. My main aim is going to be helping all the AU clubs but especially the smaller ones. I set out to do this by building a strong relationship with each individual AU club whilst helping them develop. There are several smaller AU clubs which are hugely successful and I feel they don’t get enough publicity and praise. This year I am going to try and make that change.

Q. For new students, how can they get involved in sport?

A. The first place to get involved in sport is at the end of Freshers’ week on

The Athletic Union is responsible for the 49 student sport clubs at Exeter. This includes competitive fixtures, recreational pursuits and local, regional, national and international competitions making sure there is something for everyone. For those of you who are not interested in being part of a sports club there are numerous recreational classes

which take place in the new Russell Seal Fitness Centre based at the Sports Park. Our Intramural programme is a recreational sports league which all students can take part in with teams entered representing halls, academic subjects, sports clubs, societies or groups of friends. Or for those of you interested in coaching the Sports Volunteering Scheme is a fantastic way to teach in local schools and receive subsidised coaching qualifications.

number of students attending. By improving the promotion and publicising of events people should be more aware of what varsities are taking place and when. This year I am going to try and publicise the numerous events throughout the year earlier so everyone can put the date in their diary and make sure they come along! It would also be great to encourage more International students to come along and be part of the Green Machine.

Q. Do you think we can improve on our 5th placed position in BUCS from last year?

Being part of an AU club helps you have the best possible university experience here at Exeter

A. Finishing 5th last year was an amazing result especially for the size of Exeter compared to the other universities who placed just above us [Loughborough, Durham, Birmingham and Bath]. We finished just behind Bath and hopefully this year we will be snapping at their heels and will be able to overtake them in the rankings!

Q. You want to make varsities bigger and better- how are you going to achieve that? A. Obviously by increasing the

Be part of our Rugby Varsity team Rugby Varsity Pullout Will Kelleher Sports Editor

EVERY year the Rugby Varsity between Exeter and Bath is one of the key events in the university calendar. The annual match at Sandy Park on a winter Wednesday night attracts a partisan crowd of over 3,500 and is a must-see for anyone at Exeter. February’s Varsity was special for two reasons. First, the 1st XV recorded their most emphatic victory in a Sandy Park Varsity match, winning 29-3, scoring four second half tries in the process. Secondly Exeposé Sport upped the ante by producing the inaugural Rugby Varsity pull-out an eight-page special complete with match report, comment, the key statistics, player ratings and some superb photographs. The Rugby Varsity pull-out was the biggest and most ambitious project that the Sport section of the newspaper has

ever undertaken. The coverage brought Sport in Exeposé to a whole new, exciting level that is unprecedented in student media nationally. To produce a quality set of eight pages about one match may seem excessive to some but we wanted to replicate the ‘Big Match’ feel of our Rugby Varsity and replicate national newspapers. Due to the sheer amount of information required to make it work we recruited a team of seven, a month before the match. We were ambitious, striving to document territory, possession, linebreaks and many other important things, but it paid off. We could not have achieved this success without the team of writers and statistic gatherers who sat in the stands meticulously timing things and counting others. Now you know all about it- this is your chance to get involved in the 2014 pull-out! We are so excited about making it bigger and better but we will need the help of a few budding sports writers

to make the pull-out great again. So how do you get on the team? Well, a month or so before the game, which kicks off on the 19 February, we will recruit a team of our best and most regular Sport contributors. To be selected for the Varsity team you must write for the newspaper and online’s sport section as often as possible, preferably reporting on BUCS matches every Wednesday on a variety of sports. If you write regularly you will be rewarded. This is a fantastic opportunity for your words to be read by thousands of your peers across the University. Sport is naturally key to life at Exeter and we want our coverage to reflect that. The pull-out will be read by many that so it is a chance for you to put your name towards something really special and well received. If you have any questions come along to these sessions in Freshers’ Week or if you can’t make them email sport@exepose.com

Q. What about varsities for women’s sport?

A. I feel that in previous years there has been a minimal amount of female events and I would love to change this. We have already organized a varsity for EUWRFC against the combined forces in November. For any other clubs

who wish to host a varsity, let the AU know and we can see what we can do.

Q. Value for money seems to be a big issue for lots of people when joining an AU club or the gymhow are you going to persuade people that it is worth it?

A. Being part of an AU club is the perfect opportunity to try a new sport with various clubs providing weekly coaching and brand new equipment. If you are already a top class athlete you can make the most of the excellent facilities on offer through the AU clubs which are exceptional and some of the best in the country. The brand new Russell Seal Fitness Centre has 200 stations, 6 Olympic lifting platforms, a dedicated free-weights room and a spacious cardio training area. It has been described as one of the most impressive University gyms in the UK. Being part of an AU club helps you have the best possible university experience. You will make life long friends and have memories, especially from Wednesday nights, which will last forever. Photo: Josh Irwandi

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Consistency key for a Chiefs top four finish Exeter Chiefs Dougie Wilson Reporter

EXETER CHIEFS head coach Rob Baxter says he has urged his team to remain realistic and patient in their pursuit of honours on the eve of what promises to be another exciting season at Sandy Park. Having spent 14 years as a Chiefs player (10 as captain), Baxter knows the club incredibly well and is very focused on the principles that facilitated his side’s ascension into the upper echelons of English and European rugby. Speaking to Exeposé Sport at the Exeter Chiefs Media Day, Baxter was keen to stress the long-term ambitions of his squad. “I haven’t sat down with the team and said ‘we were sixth last year, we have to be fifth or fourth this year’. We’ve talked a lot about how we want to train today, how we want to train tomorrow, how we want to portray ourselves as a squad and as individuals, and the things each player can do to bring reward and success down the line. “Now whether that’s this year, next year or the year after, that’s a little bit of a fluid thing because the reality is we don’t have to win things this year. “The club are ambitious on and off the field, and really, it’s for this group of players to decide when that happens. I think it will happen at some stage in the future and what we have to decide as a group is how quickly it happens” His success so far with the Chiefs earned a summer coaching the England Saxons on their tour of Argentina and Uruguay, an experience Baxter relished and will no doubt draw from in the coming months. Speaking about the trip, he said: “Obviously it was nice to pick the

brains of some other coaches as well, and also pick the brains of some players who are playing different styles of rugby at different clubs. I like to think I’ve learnt a few things and hopefully there’s a few tweaks we can add to what we do here because that is the key, to make sure we try and get a bit better.” This international exposure for Baxter will be crucial if they are to escape the group stages of this year’s Heineken Cup. Reigning champions Toulon, armed with a fantasy XV including Jonny Wilkinson, are the headline act scheduled to play at Sandy Park, along with Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors who complete the Chiefs group for 2013-14.

The club are ambitious on and off the field, it’s for this group of players to decide what happens “They’re great fixtures for us; a great reward for our supporters because they’ve supported us for a long time and they’re getting to see some absolutely fantastic fixtures now. It’s all part of the ongoing strategy of the club to play good rugby, attract a good level of support and a good type of support, and then develop the facility as well to hopefully develop the number of our supporters” “I’ve always said that the key is that you give your players as many big challenges as you can. Playing in the Heineken Cup group we’ve got is going to be a fantastic challenge but we’ll be a better team for it. I’m very confident in that; I said the same last year, we had a

New gym open

tough Heineken Cup group and we were a better Premiership team in the second half of the season last year because of our experiences in the Heineken Cup. We didn’t run away from it, we weren’t scared of it, we went for it full on, we had some real tough games, we learnt a few lessons and brought them back into the Premiership, and that’s exactly what we’ll do again.” Exeter Chiefs began their domestic campaign last weekend with a tricky opener away at Northampton Saints, where new captain Dean Mumm would have hoped to begin his captaincy journey with a win. The Australian lock, with 33 caps for the Wallabies, has replaced Tom Hayes as skipper and certainly has big boots to fill. “It’s pretty exciting and obviously a big honour to be asked to do it” Mumm said. “I haven’t done it yet, but it’ll be great to get stuck into it and lead the boys. Tommy Hayes has done a wonderful job whilst he’s been captain, leading the team up from the Championship and through three very successful seasons in the Premiership and Heineken Cup as well. I didn’t expect it but I’m very honoured to receive the invitation to do it.” With only one season on English soil under his belt, Mumm still has a lot to learn about the

game here and admits the captaincy will be a challenge. “I think one of the key things for us is to be really consistent. Last year we had good periods at the start and the end of the season, but we had a period in the middle where we weren’t as successful as we’d like to be. It’s a challenge individually and for the coaches to keep producing that week after week. If we can do that, I think we can have a successful season” Mumm, like Baxter, is seeking constant improvements throughout the season instead of laying down absolute targets for each competition. “This is a very ambitious place. If you focus on goals you can get lost in the season particularly if things don’t go for you.” One player with ambitions to play at the highest level is young Jack Nowell. Having won the Junior World Cup this summer along-

New Gym Will Kelleher

back!). The reception area is large with two sign-in kiosks instead of one, part of a conscious effort to reduce queues, especially in the first few weeks. With that in mind membership can now be bought online and all new members will be required to watch an eight minute video instead of having to walk round on a gym induction. Furthermore, staff hours have been increased by 200 hours, so for us that will mean eight or nine receptionists, so fewer queues, and more instructors to help us get to grips with the new equipment.

side fellow Chiefs academy players Henry Slade, Sam Hill and Luke Cowan-Dickie, the 20-year-old has recently been selected for the England Saxons. The excitable back three man will be looking to impress again this year in all competitions. Everyone at the Exeter Chiefs is clearly very excited by the route the club is taking to the top. Chief Executive Tony Rowe was less reserved than Baxter and Mumm, suggesting the Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup are realistic targets for the future. For this season though, disturbing the Premiership ‘top four’ or making past the Heineken Cup group stages would be fantastic achievements.

>> Baxter [left] and Mumm [right] will be looking to build on three solid seasons in rugby’s top flight

Sports Editor

IF you come up to the Sports Park today, you’re sure for a big surprise. Since we all left a sunny Devon in June a great amount has changed, for the better. Welcome one and all to the Russell Seal Fitness Centre, or the ‘new gym’ to me and you. With around £6 million spent on building and stocking the new two-storey gym, you would expect it to be brilliant, and having looked around myself before it was officially opened, I am confident you will not be disappointed. So what have we got for our money? With several walls a vibrant green, floor to ceiling windows upstairs and a host of state-of-the art equipment it really is an open, aesthetically pleasing and un-threatening exercise space. All the design was subject to focus groups and there has been a conscious effort to make it a student friendly atmosphere. The changing facilities have been massively improved from the old gym, doubling in size with around 15 showers, a few disabled access toilets and 80 lockers in each changing room. Just remember to bring a pound coin to use the locker (don’t worry you get it

‘The Synrgy’ stands tall in the middle of upstairs section, a formidable climbing frame of pain Talking of new equipment, there is a lot of it! From ‘watt-bikes’ endorsed by British Cycling, to ski ergos, to ‘race track’ bikes where you can cycle a virtual character through circuits, set personal best times and beat your friends on the leader board. Nothing like competitive exercise! ‘The Synrgy’ is another addition; it

stands tall in the middle of the upstairs section of the fitness centre, a formidable climbing frame of pain. Complete with integral lights and speakers as well as a host of different stations on it, it’s designed for short, sharp, intense workouts. Classes will be run on ‘The Synrgy’ three times a day for half an hour for those looking to get in and out as quickly as possible. Each of the myriad running, cycling and cross trainer machines are connected up to an interactive touch screen system. Users can download the Life Fitness app and download their progress, workout targets, play their own music, choices their own television channel to watch whilst exercising and even surf the web. Users can also virtually run or cycle all over the world, even including the full London Marathon route (if you have four hours to spare...). Having had a look around, this really is a gym targeted for students. The Sports Park will not be looking for any new non-student members until we are settled in and are finally reflecting our top five sporting university status. Prices can be found on brochures at the Sports Park and around campus. The Russell Seal Fitness Centre would make any university proud and it’s ours to use at our leisure. Take that Bath!

Exeposé

| WEEK ONE

Your guide to the Grecians Photo Credit: ECFC

Exeter City Joe Alexander Reporter

EXETER City F.C. was founded in 1904. On a tour of South America in 1914, the club which is affectionately known as “The Grecians” played against the likes of Brazil and Argentina, cementing their place in South American football history – so much so that in 2014, the current Exeter City side will be travelling to Brazil to face the fantastic Rio de Janeiro outfit, Fluminense. Exeter enjoyed an 83 year spell in the Football League, only to be relegated to the Conference in 2003. In spite of this, they managed an amazing feat of drawing 0-0 with Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup in 2005, and forced the Red Devils to play at Exeter’s very own St. James Park (SJP) for the replay. Exeter’s fortunes really changed in 2006 when the current boss Paul Tisdale (second longest serving manager in the whole of the Football League) took over. ‘Tis’ guided Exeter to back-

to-back promotions in 07/08 and 08/09 seasons before Exeter were sadly relegated from League One to League Two in the 11/12 season. Last season was to prove to be an extremely frustrating one for the Grecians. Exeter wanted an immediate return to the third tier of English football, and whilst several star players had to be sold, experience in the form of Jamie Cureton, Kevin Amankwaah, Matt Oakley, and Tommy Doherty was brought in to achieve this.

In 2014 the current Exeter City side will be travelling to Brazil to face the fantastic Rio de Janiero outfit, Fluminese Whilst there were many veteran figures in the Exeter side, this did not stop many of the clubs fledging academy products making their league debuts too, including Jake Gosling, Jacob Cane, Jamie Reid, and Jordan Moore

Gow [pictured] is a tricky attacking midfielder regarded by many to be far too good to be playing in League Two who is regarded by many to be far too good to be playing in League Two. Having plied his trade at Rangers and Blackpool in the past, this is a player who brings experience and talent in abundance to Exeter. Dogged with injuries last season, he will be able to bring the points back on his own to SJP if he can maintain his fitness. St. James Park is within easy reach of campus, requiring a mere ten minute walk from the Forum. Not only is it very cheap to go and cheer on the Grecians, but the stadium is virtually on your doorstep! To keep track of Exeter’s fortunes, be sure to check Exeposé Online regularly for match reports and tune into Xpression FM for debates and analysis regarding the Grecians’ performances. Finally, both Exeposé and Xpression FM offer you the chance to report or commentate at St. James Park with a press pass, an opportunity not to be missed for those interested in sports media. Get down to SJP! Up the Grecians!

Exeposé Sport’s cut out and keep fixture list for your new local teams 14 Sept v Wasps, 3pm Aviva Premiership 29 Sept v Leicester Tigers, 2pm Aviva Premiership 13 Oct v Cardiff Blues, 12.45pm Heinken Cup 26 Oct v Worcester Warriors, 3pm Aviva Premiership 9 Nov v Harlequins 3pm, LV= Cup 23 Nov v Saracens, 3pm Aviva Premiership 7 Dec v Toulon, 1.35pm Heineken Cup 21 Dec v Newcastle Falcons, 3pm, Aviva Premiership

11 Jan v Glasgow Warriors, 3pm Heineken Cup 25 Jan v Ospreys, 3pm LV= Cup 8 Feb v Northampton Saints, 3pm Aviva Premiership 15 Feb v Bath, 3pm Aviva Premiership 1 Mar v London Irish, 3pm Aviva Premiership 29 Mar v Gloucester, 3pm Aviva Premiership 19 Apr v Sale Sharks, 3pm Aviva Premiership 3 May v Harlequins , 3pm Aviva Premiership

Crossword No. 49 by Raucous

Taylor. Whilst the club spent most of the season in the play-off places, often lurking just outside the automatics spots, an unlucky bout of injuries coupled with disastrous form saw Exeter lose six of their last seven games and slip to 10th in the final standings. One key squad member is Alan Gow, who recently scored twice in Exeter’s 2-1 victory over York City. Gow is a tricky attacking midfield

Chiefs and City home fixtures Exeter Chiefs

SPORT

www.exepose.ex.ac.uk

Exeter City 21 Sept v Newport County 5 Oct v Plymouth Argyle 12 Oct v Hartlepool United 26 Oct v Burton Albion 16 Nov v Southend United 30 Nov v Bury 20 Dec v Chesterfield 1 Jan v Wycombe Wanderers 4 Jan v Mansfield Town 18 Jan v Morcambe 28 Jan v Oxford United 8 Feb v Portsmouth 22 Feb v Rochdale 8 Mar v Dagenham and Redbridge 11 Mar v Northampton 22 Mar v Fleetwood Town 29 Mar v Accrington Stanley 12 Apr v Cheltenham Town 21 Apr v Torquay 26 Apr v Scunthorpe

Across 1. (& 15. Down) US Open site (8,7) 3. Slavic ethnic group (4) 5. Ranter (anag.) (6) 7. Middle Eastern capital (6) 8. Carthaginian General; cannibal played by Anthony Hopkins (8) 9. Mention (4) 10. Theory of government not headed by royalty (13) 16. Stallion used for breeding (4) 17. African country (8) 19. Repeated saying (6) 20. Extravagant artistic style(6) 21. Coloured (4) 22. Answers (8)

Down 1. Her serf (anag.) (7) 2. East Asian capital (5) 3. Cheese (7) 4. Puzzles (7) 6. An increase in speed over a short distance (3,2) 7. Historical object (5) 11. River feature (7) 12. Modernised (7) 13. Zodiac sign (5) 14. US state (5) 15. See 1. Across 18. Spy (5)

SPORT

Sport

FRESHERS ISSUE 2013 |

www.exepose.ex.ac.uk

Exeposé

SPORT EDITORS

Will Kelleher & Mike Stanton sport@exepose.com JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP Exeposé Sport

It’s time to dust those boots off! Photo: Exeposé Sport

The Final Whistle Here is your guide to a few upcoming sporting courses, classes and events 16 September

The Russell Seal Fitness Centre Open Tours available to book Student Standard: £22 Student Gold: £240 Student Platinum: £300 Membership available online Contact: 01392 724452

18 September

Bike Fair Find out about cycle routes and events in the city. And pedal your own smoothies Forum Piazza 10:00 – 16:00 Open event all welcome

22 September

AU Activities Fair For information and club sign up Sports Park Sports Hall 09:00-17:00

25 September

Exeposé Sport takes you through the top ten ways to get involved in sport at Exeter 1. Join an AU club

With 49 different Athletic Union clubs to join there are a whole host of options! Go along to the taster sessions throughout Freshers’ Week and sign up at the Sports Park on Sunday. We have everything from Rugby Union to Rifle Shooting, Korfball to Kitesurfing, and Cricket to Clay Pigeon Shooting. Clubs have socials every Wednesday at various locations ending up at Timepiecedon’t be scared they’re fun!

2. Join the new Russell Seal Fitness Centre

If you don’t know already, we’ve had a new 200 station gym installed up at the Sports Park. With a host of brand new Life Fitness equipment it’ll help you keep fit and firing, and it looks great. Most of the running and cycling machines have internet and TV. It really is one of the best University facilities in the country.

3. Take part in Intramural sport

Intramural sport is a fun and friendly recreational sports league open to all students and staff. There are seven different sports to participate in, including

11-a-side football, six-a-side football, badminton, basketball, mixed hockey, mixed netball and rounders (only in summer). So pick up a registration form around campus to sign up a team. The entry deadline is Wednesday 2 October so be quick!

4. Try a new sport

With so many different options available to you, university is the perfect time to take up a new sport; something that you have always wanted to try or just something that catches your eye. Throw yourself into the deep-end; quite literally with the Scuba club! Every other issue we do a feature called ‘In The Clubhouse’, which gives a platform to the smaller AU clubs. So look out for that!

5. Go to the varsities

Varsities are a great occasion for all students. The Football Varsity, held at St James’ Park against Exeter City is on Wednesday 25 September. Around 4,000 students attend each year and with a Timepiece after party this is an event not to miss! The Rugby and Hockey Varsities are similar occasions and take place later in the year. Exeposé Sport produces an eight page

pull-out for the Rugby match at Sandy Park against Bath so get involved with that in February 2014! See page 29 for details on the pull-out.

6. Do the Red Sock Run

The ‘Red Sock Run’ in an untimed five kilometre run around campus that occurs every Friday at 7.30 am. The run is a fun, sociable event that starts at the Piazza, outside the Forum. It’s free to join and all you need is a your running shoes and a pair of red socks! ShoOops!

7. Do the Sports Volunteering Scheme

SVS gives students the opportunity to coach a sport of their choice in the local area. Ten hours of coaching entitles the student to £100 towards any coaching qualification. If you are interested, register for the SVS training day (3 October) at the Activities Fair on Sunday 22 September.

8. Participate in International Sports Month

International Sport Month promotes all aspects of sport - physical participation (both competitive and recreational), health and wellbeing to all

students whilst specifically focusing on International students. This year ISM is going to take place between February and March with a large variety of sports events and taster sessions.

9. Take part in the AU Olympics

The AU Olympics is taking place on 15 November this year and is the opportunity for AU clubs and groups of friends to compete against each other in a number of fun and competitive challenges such as sprints, jumps and throws whilst raising money for the Movember charity and wearing ridiculous fancy dress.

10. Join a fitness or Yoga class

If you’re not the typical sporty type but still want to keep fit and supple, at your leisure, why not sign up to the many classes on offer, ranging from spin classes to pilates. On our back page we will advertise the upcoming classes, so keep an eye out for ‘The Final Whistle’! It’s there, on the right...

Football Varsity St James’ Park £5.00 Kick off 19:45

Tickets Available from the Athletic Union Office, Sports Park reception and from around campus

2 October

SVS Training Day 10 Hours of coaching = £100 towards any coaching qualification. Register at the AU Activities Fair on 22 September For further information visit www.exeter.ac.uk/sport

Every Thursday

Rush Hockey 17:00 – 18:00 Free Lopez tennis courts All kit provided – All welcome p.d.mouland@ex.ac.uk

Every Thursday

Tai chi 18:00 – 19:00 Free Kay house Cabaret room Wear comfy clothes